Lexical Summary ben: Son, descendant, member of a group Original Word: בֵּן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance child, son, young (Aramaic) corresponding to ben -- child, son, young. see HEBREW ben NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to ben, see bar Definition son NASB Translation among* (1), children (1), exiles* (4), sons (4), young (1). Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 1123 בֵּן (ben) appears in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel to denote a male descendant, a member of a collective group, or, by extension, an item characterized by youthful quality (“young bulls”). Though numerically limited to eleven occurrences, these texts span royal court records, temple-building edicts, and narrative history, offering a compact yet theologically rich window into covenant identity, dynastic responsibility, and communal worship in the post-exilic era. Literary Range and Semantic Nuance 1. Literal offspring: “pray for the lives of the king and his sons” (Ezra 6:10). Sonship in the Post-Exilic Community Ezra’s narrative is set within Persian decrees that financed temple reconstruction. The repeated appeal for priestly intercession “for the king and his sons” (Ezra 6:10; 7:23) highlights two truths: Royal Consequences and Dynastic Continuity Daniel’s court tales contrast wise, faithful “sons of the captivity” (Daniel 2:25; 6:13) with complacent royal heirs (Daniel 5:13, 21). Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and Belshazzar’s downfall reveal that human dynasties stand or fall under God’s hand regardless of lineage. Yet the same term “son” that marks their fragility also preserves hope: God can raise faithful sons from exile to influence empires. Temple Worship and Intercession The word appears twice in a single verse that recounts the joyous dedication of the rebuilt temple (Ezra 6:16). While the term itself does not surface in English translation of that clause, the Aramaic idiom “sons of Israel” underlines covenant continuity from pre-exilic worship to the restored altar. Sacrificial “young bulls” (Ezra 6:9) reinforce that acceptable worship requires what is best and represents the future strength of the herd—an implicit call to dedicate one’s best and one’s next generation to the Lord. Echoes in the Book of Daniel Daniel 6:24—where accusers’ “children” share their fathers’ fate—demonstrates the sobering reach of sin. Yet the larger narrative arc points to deliverance of the truly faithful “son” in the lions’ den, prefiguring ultimate vindication in Christ. Similarly, Daniel 2:38 identifies Nebuchadnezzar as sovereign over “all mankind,” yet the kingdom is granted by the Most High who later entrusts dominion to “One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13), bridging Aramaic ben-imagery with messianic expectation. Typological Significance • Covenant lineage: “sons of the captivity” become a living sign that God preserves a remnant. Practical Ministry Insights 1. Encourage corporate identity: remind believers they are “sons” and daughters of the greater exodus, called to holiness within a foreign culture. In every occurrence, בֵּן underscores relationship—biological, communal, or sacrificial—pointing ultimately to the perfect Son whose faithfulness secures redemption for all who believe. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽנֵי־ בְּנֵ֤י בְּנֵ֨י בְּנֵי֩ בְּנֵי־ בְּנֵיה֣וֹן בְנֵֽי־ בני בני־ בניהון וּבְנֵ֣י וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ ובנוהי׃ ובני bə·nê bə·nê- ḇə·nê- bə·nê·hō·wn bənê bənê- ḇənê- bənêhōwn benei beneiHon ū·ḇə·nê ū·ḇə·nō·w·hî ūḇənê ūḇənōwhî uveNei uveNohi veneiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:9 HEB: וּמָ֣ה חַשְׁחָ֡ן וּבְנֵ֣י תוֹרִ֣ין וְדִכְרִ֣ין NAS: is needed, both young bulls, KJV: they have need of, both young bullocks, INT: Whatever of young bulls rams Ezra 6:10 Ezra 6:16 Ezra 6:16 Ezra 7:23 Daniel 2:25 Daniel 2:38 Daniel 5:13 Daniel 5:21 Daniel 6:13 Daniel 6:24 11 Occurrences |
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