עִיּוֹן (iy.yon)
iy.yon
Ijon
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Ijon, derived from a root meaning "ruin," designates a specific location in the northern territory of ancient Israel assigned to the tribe of Naphtali. The name itself reflects the site’s physical state, suggesting a place defined by its desolation or ruined condition rather than its prosperity.
This town appears in only three biblical passages, all within the historical books that record the military campaigns and territorial boundaries of the northern kingdom. It is mentioned alongside other fortified cities in 1 Kings 15:20, 2 Kings 15:29, and 1 Chronicles 6:76 as part of the region seized by the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III.
Lexical sources note that Ijon is also identified under the name Jaan in 1 Chronicles 6:76, indicating a local variation or alternate designation for the same settlement. Its brief appearance serves primarily to map the extent of Israel’s northern borders before the Assyrian deportations dismantled the tribal structures of the area.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Ijon is a name that speaks of ruins, yet it remains recorded in Scripture. It was a town in the north, assigned to Naphtali, but its history shows how quickly prosperity can fade when conflict arrives. The Assyrian armies took this place, along with others, carrying people away into exile. This reminds us that earthly cities and borders are temporary.
For your faith, Ijon offers a quiet lesson in endurance. While the town itself fell into ruin, the God who holds history did not forget His people. Even when surroundings change or stability seems lost, trust remains. The biblical record preserves these details so we might see that God’s purposes outlast any human empire.
You do not need to fear the shifting of earthly powers. Your hope is anchored in something far more secure than any fortified city. Let this ancient name encourage you to look beyond what is visible now, resting in the faithfulness that has never failed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ijon3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עִיּ֣וֹן2×
- עִיּ֡וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 15:20
Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
This verse shows Ijon as a target of military attack, highlighting its strategic value and the vulnerability of even fortified towns.
-
II Kings 15:29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
Here Ijon is listed among cities taken by Assyria, marking the beginning of the end for the northern kingdom's tribal structure.
-
II Chronicles 16:4
Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
This account parallels Kings but adds 'Abel Maim', showing how different biblical writers recorded the same historical events with slight variations.