אַלְמֹנִי (al.mo.ni)
al.mo.ni
someone
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word almoni functions as an indefinite pronoun meaning "someone" or "a certain one." It serves to identify a person without providing their specific name, creating a sense of anonymity that draws attention to the individual's role rather than their identity. This usage is relatively rare in the Old Testament, appearing in only two verses.
Its most notable occurrence is in Ruth 2:5, where Boaz asks his servant who the young woman gathering grain might be. By using almoni, the text highlights the sudden shift from the familiar to the unknown, emphasizing that this stranger holds significant importance in the narrative. A second instance appears in II Kings 4:16, describing a man whose identity is initially unspecified but becomes crucial to the story of Elisha.
The word effectively signals that the person's name is either irrelevant to the immediate point or deliberately withheld for narrative effect. This technique allows readers to focus on the actions and significance of the character rather than their personal history, a common literary device in biblical storytelling.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word almoni points to an unnamed individual, highlighting that God often works through people whose identities are not immediately known. In Ruth 4:1, Boaz addresses a relative without using his name, focusing instead on the duty of kinship and redemption. This anonymity reminds us that our value before God does not depend on our reputation or fame, but on our willingness to act with love and justice.
Similarly, in II Kings 6:8, the strategic plans of the Syrian king are thwarted by a divine warning, yet the text does not name the human agent involved. This suggests that God’s purposes advance through ordinary people who may remain unknown to history. We can find comfort in knowing that our quiet acts of faithfulness are seen and used by God, even if no one else notices.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a certain one2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַלְמֹנִ֖י1×
- אַלְמֹנִ֑י1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 4:1
Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down.
Boaz uses the term to address a relative without naming him, emphasizing the role of redemption over personal identity.
-
II Kings 6:8
Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”
The text refers to an unnamed source of intelligence, showing that God’s plans are revealed through unspecified means.