Clan

CONTROLLED MEANING: An old and obsolete Scottish form of society. An archaic culture which, after succumbing to British society, subsequently became only a novelty tradition. In America, when spelled with a "k" (klan) it refers to the Ku Klux Klan.

CORRECT MEANING: "Clan" is another word for "tribe." A clan is a society of independent households united by the common descent of the heads of each house. While Scottish culture had clans, the phenomenon was not limited to the Scots. Tribal cultures (clans) have existed on every continent. Ancient Hebrew culture, as well, was built around tribes (clans). The term has no etymological connection to the Masonic fraternity "Ku Klux Klan."

As families have heads, clans also have heads — called patriarchs. Jacob was one such clan patriarch. This patriarchal form of ecclesian society and civil government was God's choice of society for Israel.