Lexical Summary eben: stones, stone, weight Original Word: אֶבֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to build, a stone, diverse weightsFrom the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone -- + carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). see HEBREW banah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition a stone NASB Translation another (1), charm* (1), cornerstone* (1), death (1), differing weights (3), hailstones* (4), jeweler* (1), lapis lazuli* (1), line* (1), plumb line (1), plumb* (1), rock (2), rocks (1), slingstones* (1), stone (106), stonecutters* (1), stonemasons* (1), stones (125), weight (4), weights (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶ֫בֶן274 noun feminineGenesis 29:2 (masculine1Samuel 17:40 ?) stone (Assyrian abnu, = the sharp, projecting ? see DlW, Pr 107; Phoenician אבן; Aramaic אֶבֶן,  ; Ethiopic  Sabean [ ם]אבנ DHMZMG 1883, 341) — ׳א absolute Genesis 28:22 +; אָ֑בֶן Genesis 11:3 +; construct Genesis 49:24 +; suffix אַבְנוֺ 2 Kings 3:25; אֲבָנִים Genesis 31:46 +, etc.; — a stone (large or small). 1 in natural state, used as pillow Genesis 28:11,18 (E); seat Exodus 17:12 (E); cover of well Genesis 29:2,3(twice in verse); Genesis 29:8,10 (J); causing one to stumble Isaiah 8:14; marring good ground 2 Kings 3:19,25; hand-missle Exodus 21:18 (JE) Numbers 35:17,23 (P) 2 Samuel 16:6,13, especially in judicial stoning, with verb רָגַם Leviticus 20:2,27; Leviticus 24:23; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 15:35,36; Joshua 7:25 a (all P), so also Deuteronomy 21:21; 2Chronicles 24:21; Ezekiel 16:40; Ezekiel 23:47; compare 1 Kings 12:18 2Chronicles 10:18; with verb סָקַל Deuteronomy 13:11; Deuteronomy 17:5; Deuteronomy 22:21,24; 1 Kings 21:13; also Joshua 7:25b (J E or D); sling-stones Judges 20:16; 1 Samuel 17:40,49 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 17:50; 2Chronicles 26:14; hurled by engines 2 Chronicles 26:15; set up for inscribing law Deuteronomy 27:2,4,8; Joshua 8:32 (all D); as memorial Joshua 4:3,5,6,7,8,9,20,21 (J E D) 1 Samuel 7:12; as sacred pillar (מַצֵּבָה) Genesis 28:18; Genesis 35:14 (anointed with oil), Genesis 28:22 (= בֵּיתאֵל) compare ׳(רֹעֶה) א יִשְׂרָאֵל Genesis 49:24 (see Di); as witness Genesis 31:45 compare Joshua 24:26,27 (all J E); plural gathered into heap (גַּל) over dead, Joshua 7:26 (see Di) Joshua 8:29; compare Joshua 10:18,27 (JE) 2 Samuel 18:17; גַּל on which meal was eaten, in a compact Genesis 31:46 (twice in verse) (JE); built into altar Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5,6 (J E D) Joshua 8:31; 1 Kings 18:31,32,38; compare 2 Kings 23:15 ᵐ5 Klo (for הבמה); of figured stone (forbidden) מַשְׂכִּית ׳א Leviticus 26:1 (H) ;גדולה ׳א where ark rested 1 Samuel 6:14,15 also 1 Samuel 6:18 (ᵑ0 אבל q. v.); (see for other note-worthy stones 9 below 2 stone, as material, of tablets Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 34:1 (plural) Exodus 34:4; Exodus 34:4 (JE) Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 5:19; Deuteronomy 9:9,10,11; Deuteronomy 10:1,3; of vessels, hence probably Exodus 7:19 (P; ׳א = vessels of stone "" עצים) see Di; idols ("" עץ) Deuteronomy 4:28; Deuteronomy 28:36,64; Deuteronomy 29:16; 2 Kings 19:18 = Isaiah 37:19; also Jeremiah 3:9; Ezekiel 20:32; pavement 2 Kings 16:17; edifice 1 Kings 6:7 compare Genesis 11:3; also 2 Samuel 5:11; 2 Kings 12:13; 1 Chronicles 22:15; often plural of (worked) stones Leviticus 14:40,42 (twice in verse); Leviticus 14:43,45 (P; in wall of house) 2 Kings 22:6 +, compare of city-wall Nehemiah 3:35; of (ruined) city 1 Kings 15:22; Nehemiah 3:34; tomb Isaiah 14:19; אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֺת (costly building-stones) 1 Kings 5:31; 1 Kings 7:9,10,11 (see also below 3); אַבְנֵיֿ שַׁיִשׁ = marble (see ᵐ5) 1 Chronicles 29:2; אַבְנֵי גָזִית = hewn stones 1 Kings 5:31; 1 Chronicles 22:2; Ezekiel 40:42 (for altar-tables), — compare גָּזִית; מַחְצֵב ׳א 2 Kings 12:13; 2 Kings 22:6; 2Chronicles 34:11; foundation-stone, corner-stone Isaiah 28:16; Jeremiah 51:26; Job 38:6; Psalm 118:22; cap-stone, completing the building, הָרִאשֹׁנָה ׳הָא Zechariah 4:7 (but see רֹאשׁ מִּנָּה Psalm 118:22 as above), Zechariah 3:9 upon one stone seven eyes, probably refers to this cap- or head-stone; the eyes are symbol of God's watchfulness; perhaps explaining cup-stones found in Orient, see GutheZPV 1890, 129; stone-cutters ׳חָרָשֵׁי א 2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 22:15; ׳חֹצְבֵי הָא 2 Kings 12:13 compare 1 Chronicles 22:2. 3 precious stones, Generally with modifying word יְקָרָה ׳א collective 2 Samuel 12:30; 1 Kings 10:2 + often (see 2); הַשֹּׁהַם ׳א Genesis 2:12 (J) compare Exodus 25:7; Exodus 28:9; Exodus 35:9,27; Exodus 39:6 (P) 1 Chronicles 29:2; מִלֻּאִים ׳א Exodus 25:7; Exodus 35:9,27 compare 1 Chronicles 29:2; סַמִּיר ׳א Ezekiel 1:26; Ezekiel 10:1; אַבְנֵי אֶקְדָּח Isaiah 54:12; חֵפֶץ ׳א ib.; אַבְנֵי פוּח וְרִקְמָה 1 Chronicles 29:2; חֵן ׳א Proverbs 17:8; on אַבְנֵי אֵשׁ (stones of fire) Ezekiel 28:14,16 as precious stones = Assyrian aban išâti (?) see DlPa 118 & W 40; but Sm and others thunderbolts; also without distinctive modifier Exodus 25:7; Exodus 35:9; ׳חָרַשׁ א engraver in stone Exodus 28:11; compare Exodus 31:5; Exodus 35:33 (P). 4 stones containing metal, = ore, Deuteronomy 8:9 (see Di) Job 28:2 compare Job 28:3. 5 a weight, originally stone (see Proverbs 27:3 compare English weight stone = 14 lb) אַבְנֵיכִֿיס Proverbs 16:11 (compare Assyrian DlW 38); הַמֶּלֶח ׳א 2 Samuel 14:26 (i.e. accusative to royal standard; compare COTGenesis 23:16); ׳וָא ׳א Deuteronomy 25:13; Proverbs 20:10,23 (i.e. different weights, for dishonest use); כִּיס אַבְנֵי מִרְמָה Micah 6:11; just weights אַבְנֵיצֶֿדֶק Leviticus 19:36; שְׁלֵמָה ׳א Proverbs 11:1; hence also heavy mass of metal (lead) Zechariah 5:8. 6 plummet Isaiah 34:11 (stones of devastation, or emptiness, compare on sense 2 Kings 21:13; Amos 7:7,8); also made of metal הַבְּדִּיל ׳הא Zechariah 4:10 (conversely plummet from plumbum). 7 objects like stones; particle hail, explicitly, אַבְנֵי הַבָּרָד Joshua 10:11 compare Isaiah 30:30; אֶלְגָּבִישׁ ׳א Ezekiel 13:11,18; Ezekiel 38:22; but also אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֺת Joshua 10:11 (E) (compare Assyrian DlW 38); lime-stones אַבְנֵיגִֿר Isaiah 27:9. 8 in simile (mostly poetry) of sinking in water Exodus 15:5 = Nehemiah 9:11; motionlessness Exodus 15:16; strength Job 6:12; firmness Job 41:16; solidity (of ice) Job 38:30; in prose, of commonness 1 Kings 10:27; 2Chronicles 1:15; also metaphor of one in fear 1 Samuel 25:37 (i.e. 653petrified with terror, compare Exodus 15:16 above); ׳לֵב הָא = perverse, hard heart Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26; אַבְנֵינֵֿזֶר Zechariah 9:16 (of ransomed Israel) — ׳א personified Habakkuk 2:11 compare Habakkuk 2:19; compare Ezekiel 13:11 (see 7 above) 9 In topographic terms (nearly = proper name); אֶבֶן בֹּהַן Joshua 15:6; Joshua 18:17; הָעֶזֶר ׳א 1 Samuel 5:1; compare 1 Samuel 7:12, also 1 Samuel 4:1 (We Dr); ׳הָא הָאָ֑זֶל 1 Samuel 20:19, read הָאַרְגָּב הַלָּאז see ᵐ5 here & 1 Samuel 20:41 (We Dr Klo); הַזֹּחֶלֶת ׳א 1 Kings 1:9 (where WeSkizzen III, 171 compare Arabic Zuhal = Saturn). אַרְגָּב noun masculine heap, mound (probably); — so read 1 Samuel 20:19 (for אבן), 1 Samuel 20:41 (for ננב), ᵐ5 (αρ σαβ, ερσαβ), Th We Klo Dr Kit Bu HPS. אֶ֫בֶן noun feminineDaniel 2:34 stone (Biblical Hebrew id.); — absolute׳א Daniel 2:34 +; emphatic אַבְנָא Daniel 2:35; — 1 a (the) stone Daniel 2:34,35,45; Daniel 6:18. 2 stone, material of idols Daniel 5:4,23; of buildings Ezra 5:8; Ezra 6:4. Topical Lexicon Material Reality and Everyday Use In the ancient Near East a stone (אֶבֶן, ʾeven) was the most accessible and durable building material. Because of its hardness it appears repeatedly in association with town walls (Joshua 6:5), house foundations (1 Kings 5:17), paving (2 Chronicles 7:3), mill-stones for grinding grain (Deuteronomy 24:6), and weight-stones in commerce (Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 16:11). The prevalence of stone implements explains why the word occurs more than two hundred seventy times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Building and Architecture Stones shaped entire cities. Solomon “commanded that they quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with hewn stones” (1 Kings 5:17). Fortification projects under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:5) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:2) both refer to the reuse of burnt stones from earlier ruins. The stability of stone lent itself to metaphors for God’s faithfulness: “For their rock is not like our Rock” (Deuteronomy 32:31), a comparison that presupposes the reliability associated with stone. Foundations, Cornerstones and Capstones Foundation stones picture permanence (Job 38:6) and a cornerstone represents order and alignment (Isaiah 28:16). The “chief cornerstone” theme ultimately anticipates Messiah, for Isaiah writes, “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). This text underlies New Testament citations such as 1 Peter 2:6. Memorial Stones and Covenant Witnesses Stones often memorialize divine encounters. Jacob raised a pillar at Bethel: “He took the stone he had placed under his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top” (Genesis 28:18). Later he erected another pillar to mark Rachel’s tomb (Genesis 35:20). Joshua set up twelve stones at Gilgal to commemorate crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:20-24). Samuel raised a stone between Mizpah and Shen, naming it Ebenezer—“Stone of Help”—saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). Such monuments were not idols but tangible testimonies reminding later generations of covenant faithfulness. Boundary and Legal Stones Boundary stones protected tribal or family inheritance: “Do not move an ancient boundary stone” (Proverbs 22:28; cf. Deuteronomy 19:14). Because Yahweh himself allotted the land, tampering with a stone marker violated divine order. Judicial assemblies also used stones: infractions meriting capital punishment ended in stoning (Leviticus 20:2; Numbers 15:35-36), underscoring community participation in purging evil. Altar Stones and Sacrifice Uncut stones were commanded for certain altars so that no human tool would profane them (Exodus 20:25). When Israel entered Canaan, an altar of unhewn stones was erected on Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:31). The prohibition against shaping the stones paralleled the rejection of human innovation in worship and foreshadowed the sufficiency of God’s provision. Tablets of Stone The Ten Commandments were “written on both sides, inscribed by the finger of God” on stone tablets (Exodus 32:15-16). The medium matches the message: divine law is as enduring as the rock into which it was carved (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). Stones as Instruments of Judgment and Deliverance Stones fell from heaven against the Amorites (Joshua 10:11), reminding Israel that God fights for his people. David’s sling stone felled Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49), demonstrating salvation by divine power rather than by human might (compare Zechariah 4:6-7, where the “capstone” reappears as a victory emblem). Metaphorical and Prophetic Uses 1. Stumbling Stone: Isaiah foretells, “He will be a sanctuary—but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14). Messianic Fulfillment The Old Testament’s various stone motifs converge in Jesus Christ. Psalm 118:22 declares, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This verse is quoted in Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7 to affirm that Jesus, though rejected, is the essential cornerstone of God’s redemptive temple. Daniel’s vision of a stone “cut out, but not by human hands” that crushes the kingdoms of the world (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) foreshadows the everlasting kingdom established through the Messiah. Ministerial and Devotional Implications • The durability of stone calls believers to steadfastness in doctrine and life (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thus the simple noun אֶבֶן functions as a richly layered thread in the tapestry of revelation, linking creation, covenant, law, worship, judgment, and ultimately the person and work of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations אֲבָנִ֑ים אֲבָנִ֔ים אֲבָנִ֖ים אֲבָנִ֗ים אֲבָנִ֜ים אֲבָנִ֣ים אֲבָנִ֣ים ׀ אֲבָנִ֤ים אֲבָנִ֤ים ׀ אֲבָנִ֥ים אֲבָנִ֧ים אֲבָנִ֨ים אֲבָנִֽים׃ אֲבָנִים֙ אֲבָנֶ֑יהָ אֲבָנֶ֔יהָ אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ אֲבָנַ֔יִךְ אֲבָנָ֣יו אֲבָנָֽיו׃ אֲבָנָיו֙ אֶ֔בֶן אֶ֖בֶן אֶ֙בֶן֙ אֶ֛בֶן אֶ֜בֶן אֶ֝בֶן אֶ֣בֶן אֶ֤בֶן אֶ֥בֶן אֶ֧בֶן אֶ֨בֶן אֶ֭בֶן אֶֽבֶן־ אֶבֶן֒ אַבְנ֜וֹ אַבְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֤י אַבְנֵ֥י אַבְנֵי֙ אַבְנֵי־ אַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ אָ֑בֶן אָֽבֶן׃ אבן אבן־ אבן׃ אבנו אבני אבני־ אבניה אבניהם׃ אבניו אבניו׃ אבניך אבנים אבנים׃ בְּאֶ֖בֶן בְּאֶ֣בֶן בְּאֶ֥בֶן בְּאַבְנֵ֣י בָּֽאֲבָנִ֔ים בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים בָּאֲבָנִ֣ים בָּאֲבָנִֽים׃ בָּאֲבָנִים֙ בָּאֲבָנִים֮ בָּאֶ֛בֶן בָּאֶ֣בֶן בָּאָ֑בֶן בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים בָאָֽבֶן׃ באבן באבן׃ באבני באבנים באבנים׃ הָ֣אֲבָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲבָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲבָנִים֙ הָאֲבָנִ֑ים הָאֲבָנִ֔ים הָאֲבָנִ֖ים הָאֲבָנִ֗ים הָאֲבָנִ֛ים הָאֲבָנִ֣ים הָאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֲבָנִ֨ים הָאֶ֔בֶן הָאֶ֖בֶן הָאֶ֗בֶן הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ הָאֶ֛בֶן הָאֶ֣בֶן הָאֶ֤בֶן הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאֶ֧בֶן האבן האבנים וְ֝אֶ֗בֶן וְ֠הָאֲבָנִים וְאֶ֖בֶן וְאֶ֣בֶן וְאֶ֥בֶן וְאַ֨בְנֵי־ וְאַבְנֵ֖י וְאַבְנֵ֣י וְאַבְנֵ֥י וְאַבְנֵ֨י וְאַבְנֵי־ וְהָאֲבָנִ֖ים וְהָאֶ֣בֶן וְהָאֶ֥בֶן וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ וַאֲבָנִים֙ וַאֲבָנַ֤יִךְ וָ֭אֶבֶן וָאֶ֔בֶן וָאֶ֖בֶן וָאָ֑בֶן וָאָֽבֶן׃ וּבְאֶ֥בֶן וּבָאֲבָנִ֖ים וּבָאֲבָנִֽים׃ וּבָאֶ֔בֶן וּלְאֶ֣בֶן וּלְאַבְנֵ֖י ואבן ואבן׃ ואבני ואבני־ ואבניך ואבנים ובאבן ובאבנים ובאבנים׃ והאבן והאבנים ולאבן ולאבני כְּאֶ֣בֶן כְּאַבְנֵי־ כָּ֭אֶבֶן כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים כָּאָ֑בֶן כאבן כאבני־ כאבנים לְאֶ֣בֶן לְאַבְנֵ֣י לְאַבְנֵי־ לְאָ֔בֶן לְאָֽבֶן׃ לָאֲבָנִ֥ים לאבן לאבן׃ לאבני לאבני־ לאבנים מֵאֶ֔בֶן מֵאַבְנֵ֣י מאבן מאבני ’ă·ḇā·na·yiḵ ’ă·ḇā·nāw ’ă·ḇā·ne·hā ’ă·ḇā·nîm ’ā·ḇen ’aḇ·nê ’aḇ·nê- ’aḇ·nê·hem ’aḇ·nōw ’ăḇānāw ’ăḇānayiḵ ’ăḇānehā ’ăḇānîm ’āḇen ’aḇnê ’aḇnê- ’aḇnêhem ’aḇnōw ’e·ḇen ’e·ḇen- ’eḇen ’eḇen- avaNav avaNayich avaNeiha avaNim Aven avnei avneiHem avNo bā’ăḇānîm ḇā’ăḇānîm bā’āḇen ḇā’āḇen bā’eḇen bā·’ă·ḇā·nîm ḇā·’ă·ḇā·nîm bā·’ā·ḇen ḇā·’ā·ḇen bā·’e·ḇen baavaNim baAven baEven bə’aḇnê bə’eḇen bə·’aḇ·nê bə·’e·ḇen beavNei beEven Even hā’ăḇānîm hā’eḇen hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm hā·’e·ḇen haavaNim haEven kā’ăḇānîm kā’āḇen kā’eḇen kā·’ă·ḇā·nîm kā·’ā·ḇen kā·’e·ḇen kaavaNim kaAven Kaeven kə’aḇnê- kə’eḇen kə·’aḇ·nê- kə·’e·ḇen keavnei keEven lā’ăḇānîm lā·’ă·ḇā·nîm laavaNim lə’āḇen lə’aḇnê lə’aḇnê- lə’eḇen lə·’ā·ḇen lə·’aḇ·nê lə·’aḇ·nê- lə·’e·ḇen leAven leavNei leEven mê’aḇnê mê’eḇen mê·’aḇ·nê mê·’e·ḇen meavNei meEven ū·ḇā·’ă·ḇā·nîm ū·ḇā·’e·ḇen ū·ḇə·’e·ḇen ū·lə·’aḇ·nê ū·lə·’e·ḇen ūḇā’ăḇānîm ūḇā’eḇen ūḇə’eḇen ūlə’aḇnê ūlə’eḇen uleavNei uleEven uvaavaNim uvaEven uvEven vaavaNayich vaavaNim vaAven vaEven veavNei veEven Vehaavanim vehaEven velaEven wa’ăḇānayiḵ wa’ăḇānîm wā’āḇen wā’eḇen wa·’ă·ḇā·na·yiḵ wa·’ă·ḇā·nîm wā·’ā·ḇen wā·’e·ḇen wə’aḇnê wə’aḇnê- wə’eḇen wə·’aḇ·nê wə·’aḇ·nê- wə·’e·ḇen wə·hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm wə·hā·’e·ḇen wə·lā·’e·ḇen wəhā’ăḇānîm wəhā’eḇen wəlā’eḇenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:12 HEB: שָׁ֥ם הַבְּדֹ֖לַח וְאֶ֥בֶן הַשֹּֽׁהַם׃ NAS: and the onyx stone are there. KJV: and the onyx stone. INT: are there the bdellium stone and the onyx Genesis 11:3 Genesis 28:11 Genesis 28:18 Genesis 28:22 Genesis 29:2 Genesis 29:3 Genesis 29:3 Genesis 29:8 Genesis 29:10 Genesis 31:45 Genesis 31:46 Genesis 31:46 Genesis 35:14 Genesis 49:24 Exodus 7:19 Exodus 15:5 Exodus 15:16 Exodus 17:12 Exodus 20:25 Exodus 21:18 Exodus 24:12 Exodus 25:7 Exodus 25:7 Exodus 28:9 273 Occurrences |
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