Definition and Etymology:
The term "An" is not directly found as a standalone word in the Bible. However, it is often associated with the ancient city of On, also known as Heliopolis, in Egypt. The name "On" is derived from the Hebrew word "אָ֑וֶן" (Aven), which can mean "strength" or "vigor," but in the context of the city, it is often associated with the Egyptian sun god, Ra.

Biblical References:
The city of On is mentioned in the context of Joseph's life in the Book of Genesis. Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, rises to power in Egypt and marries Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. This marriage signifies Joseph's integration into Egyptian society and his acceptance by the Egyptian elite.

· Genesis 41:45 : "Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt."

· Genesis 41:50 : "Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On."

Historical and Cultural Context:
On, or Heliopolis, was a major city in ancient Egypt, known for its temple dedicated to the sun god Ra. It was a center of learning and religious activity, particularly in the worship of the sun. The priests of On were influential figures in Egyptian society, and the city played a significant role in the religious and political life of the nation.

The marriage of Joseph to Asenath, the daughter of a priest from On, highlights the blending of Hebrew and Egyptian cultures during Joseph's time in Egypt. This union also underscores the providential role Joseph played in God's plan to preserve the Israelites during the famine.

Theological Significance:
The mention of On in the Bible, particularly in the account of Joseph, serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to work through various cultures and peoples to fulfill His purposes. Joseph's rise to power in Egypt and his marriage into a prominent Egyptian family illustrate God's providential care and the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The city of On, as a center of pagan worship, also contrasts with the monotheistic faith of the Israelites. This juxtaposition highlights the distinctiveness of the Hebrew faith and the challenges faced by God's people living in a polytheistic society.

Related Topics:
· Joseph in Egypt
· Asenath
· Egyptian Religion and Culture
· God's Providence and Sovereignty
· Intercultural Marriages in the Bible

Further Study:
For a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of On, readers may explore archaeological findings related to Heliopolis and its significance in ancient Egyptian history. Additionally, studying the life of Joseph and his role in Egypt provides insight into God's redemptive plan and His faithfulness to His covenant people.1. (a.) This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as twice an hour, once an age, a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every.

2. (conj.) If; -- a word used by old English authors.

476. antidikos -- an opponent, adversary
... an opponent, adversary. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: antidikos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-tid'-ee-kos) Short Definition: an opponent, adversary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/476.htm - 8k

491. Antiocheus -- an Antiochian, an inhabitant of Antioch
... an Antiochian, an inhabitant of Antioch. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Antiocheus Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee-okh-yoos') Short Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/491.htm - 6k

302. an -- usually untranslatable, but generally denoting ...
... 301, 302. an. 303 . usually untranslatable, but generally denoting
supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty. Part of Speech ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/302.htm - 8k

775. Asiarches -- an Asiarch, an official of Asian cities
... an Asiarch, an official of Asian cities. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Asiarches Phonetic Spelling: (as-ee-ar'-khace) Short Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/775.htm - 6k

3516. nepios -- an infant, fig. a simple-minded or immature person
... 3515, 3516. nepios. 3517 . an infant, fig. a simple-minded ... an infant, child.
Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition an infant, fig. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3516.htm - 6k

5257. huperetes -- an underling, servant
... an underling, servant. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: huperetes
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ay-ret'-ace) Short Definition: a servant, an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5257.htm - 7k

2256. hemiorion -- half an hour
... half an hour. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hemiorion Phonetic Spelling:
(hay-mee-o'-ree-on) Short Definition: half an hour Definition: half an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2256.htm - 6k

4756. stratia -- an army
... an army. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stratia Phonetic Spelling:
(strat-ee'-ah) Short Definition: an army, host of angels Definition: an army ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4756.htm - 7k

993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of ...
... Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of Zebedee. Part of Speech: Proper
Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Boanerges Phonetic Spelling: (bo-an-erg-es ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/993.htm - 8k

1636. elaia -- an olive (the tree or the fruit)
... an olive (the tree or the fruit). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
elaia Phonetic Spelling: (el-ah'-yah) Short Definition: an olive tree ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1636.htm - 7k

3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished ...
... kalah. 3616 . to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent.
Transliteration: kalah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-law') Short Definition: finished. ...
/hebrew/3615.htm - 7k

4322. Mikayahu -- "Who is like Yah?" an Israelite, also an ...
... "Who is like Yah?" an Israelite, also an Israelite woman. Transliteration: Mikayahu
Phonetic Spelling: (me-kaw-yaw'-hoo) Short Definition: Micaiah. ...
/hebrew/4322.htm - 6k

208. Onam -- "vigorous," the name of an Edomite and of an ...
... 207, 208. Onam. 209 . "vigorous," the name of an Edomite and of an Israelite.
Transliteration: Onam Phonetic Spelling: (o-nawm') Short Definition: Onam. ...
/hebrew/208.htm - 6k

6322. Pul -- an Assyrian king
... Pul. 6323 . an Assyrian king. Transliteration: Pul Phonetic Spelling: (pool) Short
Definition: Pul. Word Origin of foreign origin Definition an Assyr. ...
/hebrew/6322.htm - 6k

8272. Sharetser -- an Assyr., also perhaps an Israelite
... an Assyr., also perhaps an Israelite. Transliteration: Sharetser or Saretser
Phonetic Spelling: (shar-eh'-tser) Short Definition: Sharezer. ...
/hebrew/8272.htm - 6k

1092. Bilhan -- the name of an Edomite, also of an Israelite
... 1091, 1092. Bilhan. 1093 . the name of an Edomite, also of an Israelite.
Transliteration: Bilhan Phonetic Spelling: (bil-hawn') Short Definition: Bilhan. ...
/hebrew/1092.htm - 6k

2226. Zerach -- three Israelites, also an Edomite, also an ...
... Zerach. 2227 . three Israelites, also an Edomite, also an Ethiopian. Transliteration:
Zerach Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-rakh) Short Definition: Zerah. ...
/hebrew/2226.htm - 6k

3506. Yithran -- an Edomite, also an Asherite
... 3505, 3506. Yithran. 3507 . an Edomite, also an Asherite. Transliteration:
Yithran Phonetic Spelling: (yith-rawn') Short Definition: Ithran. ...
/hebrew/3506.htm - 6k

425. Elah -- "terebinth," an Israelite name, also an Edomite name
... 424, 425. Elah. 426 . "terebinth," an Israelite name, also an Edomite name.
Transliteration: Elah Phonetic Spelling: (ay-law') Short Definition: Elah. ...
/hebrew/425.htm - 6k

2081. Zebina -- "bought," an Israelite
... 2080, 2081. Zebina. 2082 . "bought," an Israelite. Transliteration: Zebina
Phonetic Spelling: (zeb-ee-naw') Short Definition: Zebina. ...
/hebrew/2081.htm - 6k

An Humble, Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy
An Humble, Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy. <. An Humble,
Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy William Law. ...
/.../law/an humble affectionate and earnest address to the clergy/

The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition
The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition. <. The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition
Charles R. Erdman. Produced by Stephen Hope, Fox ...
//christianbookshelf.org/erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/

Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity
Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity. ... Theses Theologicae
and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity Robert Barclay. ...
/.../barclay/theses theologicae and an apology for the true christian divinity/

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12. <. The Beatitudes: An Exposition
of Matthew 5:1-12 Thomas Watson. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/

An Alphabetical List of ME Preachers
An Alphabetical List of ME Preachers. <. An Alphabetical List of ME Preachers
Nathan Bangs, DD. Table of Contents. Title Page. Part 1 A - K. Letter A. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/

An Answer to the Jews
An Answer to the Jews. <. An Answer to the Jews Tertullian. Translated
by the Rev. S. Thelwall. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/an answer to the jews/

An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Additional Notes
An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Additional Notes. <.
An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Additional ...
/.../swete/an introduction to the old testament in greek additional notes/

An Examination
... An Examination. By Rev. ... By Rev. William Perkins, DD, A Theological Writer In England
Also, An Analysis Of The Ninth Chapter Of The Epistle To The Romans. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/an examination.htm

Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc
Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc. <. Confessions of an
Inquiring Spirit etc Samuel Taylor Coleridge. This etext ...
//christianbookshelf.org/coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/

An Afterword.
... THE NEW TESTAMENT. AN AFTERWORD. Dear Child:"God's Book is a Book of Ages,
a Book of Races, and a Book of Nations; but it is far ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lathbury/childs story of the bible/an afterword.htm

Jo-an'an (1 Occurrence)
Jo-an'an. Joanan, Jo-an'an. Joanna . Multi-Version Concordance
Jo-an'an (1 Occurrence). Luke 3:27 the son of Joanan, the son of ...
/j/jo-an'an.htm - 6k

An (13942 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) This word is properly an adjective,
but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used ...
/a/an.htm - 7k

Zo'an (7 Occurrences)
Zo'an. Zoan, Zo'an. Zoar . Multi-Version Concordance Zo'an (7
Occurrences). Numbers 13:22 They went up by the South, and ...
/z/zo'an.htm - 8k

Borash'an (1 Occurrence)
Borash'an. Bor-ashan, Borash'an. Border . Multi-Version Concordance
Borash'an (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 30:30 and to ...
/b/borash'an.htm - 6k

Chalde'an (6 Occurrences)
Chalde'an. Chaldean, Chalde'an. Chaldeans . Multi-Version Concordance
Chalde'an (6 Occurrences). 2 Kings 25:24 And Gedaliah ...
/c/chalde'an.htm - 8k

An'amim (2 Occurrences)
An'amim. Anamim, An'amim. Anamites . Multi-Version Concordance
An'amim (2 Occurrences). Genesis 10:13 Mizraim became ...
/a/an'amim.htm - 6k

An'tipas (1 Occurrence)
An'tipas. Antipas, An'tipas. Antipater . Multi-Version Concordance
An'tipas (1 Occurrence). Revelation 2:13 Satan's ...
/a/an'tipas.htm - 6k

An'athoth (19 Occurrences)
An'athoth. Anathoth, An'athoth. Anathothijah . Multi-Version Concordance
An'athoth (19 Occurrences). Joshua 21:18 Anathoth ...
/a/an'athoth.htm - 11k

Ahi'an (1 Occurrence)
Ahi'an. Ahian, Ahi'an. Ahiel . Multi-Version Concordance Ahi'an
(1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 7:19 And the sons of Shemida ...
/a/ahi'an.htm - 6k

Beth-she'an (5 Occurrences)
Beth-she'an. Beth-shean, Beth-she'an. Bethshemesh . Multi-Version
Concordance Beth-she'an (5 Occurrences). Joshua 17 ...
/b/beth-she'an.htm - 8k

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