H0437 H0437
Oak tree (genus Quercus), a symbol of strength, majesty, and endurance in biblical imagery
The oak (אַלּוֹן) figures prominently in both narrative and prophetic poetry. It marks the burial site of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, beneath the 'oak of weeping' at Bethel (Gen 35:8). The prophets invoke it as a symbol of towering strength — the oaks of Bashan represent pride before God's judgment (Isa 2:13; Zech 11:2) — and Hosea condemns idolatrous worship under oaks (Hos 4:13). Spanish 'encina,' French 'chene,' and the Septuagint's drys all confirm identification with the oak genus rather than the terebinth.
Senses
1. oak (tree) — The masculine noun אַלּוֹן designating the oak tree (Quercus), distinct from the terebinth (אֵלָה) though sometimes confused in older translations. It appears in narrative as a memorial marker — Deborah's burial oak at Bethel (Gen 35:8, 'the oak of weeping'). Prophetically it symbolizes towering strength and pride: the 'oaks of Bashan' represent what God will bring low (Isa 2:13; Zech 11:2), Amos compares the Amorites' height to oaks (Amos 2:9), and Hosea condemns illicit worship under oaks (Hos 4:13). It also serves as timber for shipbuilding (Ezek 27:6) and idol-making (Isa 44:14). Spanish 'encina' and German 'Eiche' confirm the oak identification. 8×
AR["البَلُّوطِ", "الْبَلُّوطَةِ", "بَلُّوطًا", "بَلُّوطِ", "كَ-البَلُّوطَاتِ", "وَ-كَالبَلُّوطَةِ", "وَبَلُّوطًا", "يا-بَلُّوطَاتِ"]·ben["-এলোন-গাছের", "এবং-ওকগাছ", "ও-ওক-গাছের-মতো", "ওক-গাছের", "ওক-বৃক্ষগুলি", "ওকগাছ", "ওকগাছের-মতো", "ওকের"]·DE["[אלון]", "[אלוני]", "[אלונים]", "[ואלון]", "[וכאלון]", "[כאלונים]", "der-Eiche"]·EN["and-an-oak", "and-as-the-oak", "like-the-oaks", "oak", "oaks", "oaks-of", "the-oak"]·FR["[אלוני]", "[אלונים]", "[ואלון]", "[וכאלון]", "chêne", "comme-des-chênes", "le-oak"]·heb["אלון", "אלוני", "אלונים", "ה-אלון", "ו-אלון", "ו-כ-אלון", "כ-אלוֹנים"]·HI["और-जैसे-शाहबलूत", "और-बलूत", "जैसे-बलूत", "बलूत", "बलूत-वृक्ष", "बलूतों", "बांजवृक्षों"]·ID["Pohon-ek", "dan-pohon-ek", "dan-seperti-pohon-tarbantin", "pohon-besar", "pohon-ek", "pohon-pohon-oak", "pohon-tarbantin", "seperti-pohon-pohon-ek"]·IT["[אלון]", "[אלוני]", "[אלונים]", "[כאלונים]", "e-quercia", "il-oak", "quercia"]·jav["Kayu-ok", "ek", "kados-wit-ék", "lan-kados-wit-kayu-besar", "lan-wit-ek", "wit-ek", "wit-oak"]·KO["그-상수리나무의", "그리고-상수리나무를", "상수리나무", "상수리나무들-에", "상수리나무들아", "상수리나무들처럼", "참나무-같으니", "참나무들로"]·PT["Carvalhos", "carvalho", "carvalhos-de", "como-os-carvalhos", "e-como-terebinto", "e-árvore", "o-carvalho"]·RU["дубом", "дубы", "и-дуб", "и-как-дуб", "как-дубы"]·ES["Encinas", "como-las-encinas", "encina", "encinas-de", "la-encina", "robles-de", "y-como-roble", "y-roble"]·SW["Mialoni", "akaiita", "kama-mialoni", "mialoni-ya", "mwaloni", "na-kama-mti-wa-eloni", "na-mwaloni"]·TR["-meşe-ağacının", "meselerinin", "meşe-ağaçları-gibi", "meşe-ağaçlarını", "meşeleri", "meşenin", "ve-mese", "ve-pelit-gibi"]·urd["اور-بلوط", "اور-شاہ-بلوط-کی-طرح", "بلوط", "بلوط-کے", "بلوطو", "بلوطوں", "بلوطوں-جیسا"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַלּוֹן n.m. Gn 35:8 oak (𝔊 βάλανος, δρῦς, etc.)—א׳ abs. Gn 35:8 +; cstr. ib.; pl. אַלּוֹנִים Am 2:9; Ez 27:6; cstr. אַלּוֹנֵי Is 2:13; Zc 11:2;—as marking grave of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse Gn 35:8 (E); whence called oak of weeping, א׳ בָּכוּת ib. (v. Di ad loc., & sub אֵלוֹן p. 18); elsewhere only in prophets; as marking illicit shrines Ho 4:13 (‖ לִבְנֶה, אֵלָה); as felled Is 6:13 (in sim.;…