אׇרְנָן (or.nan)

The name Ornán appears in the historical records of Israel’s early monarchy, specifically within the books of Chronicles and Samuel. It identifies a Jebusite man who owned a threshing floor on Mount Moriah. This location later became significant as the site where King David purchased land to build an altar to God, stopping a plague that had struck the people (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21). The text notes that this same individual is referred to as Araunah in the parallel accounts in Samuel.

Etymologically, the name Ornán is often interpreted as meaning "light was perpetuated" or associated with fir trees. Its presence in these narratives highlights a moment of transition for Jerusalem. A local resident, previously part of the Jebusite population, engages in a transaction with the Israelite king. This interaction marks the beginning of the site's sanctification, which would eventually lead to the construction of Solomon’s Temple.

Translators typically render the name consistently as Ornán or Araunah depending on the source text used. The variation in spelling between the two biblical books reflects minor phonetic differences in Hebrew pronunciation rather than a difference in identity. The account emphasizes the legal purchase of the land, underscoring that the future temple site was acquired through a fair exchange with its owner.