בֵּן
𐤁𐤍
Bên
H1122 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: 'Ben.' Personal name meaning 'son.' Used as a standalone name and also as a name element in patronymics (e.g., Ben-Hadad, literally 'son of Hadad'). In the Hebrew Bible, 'Ben' appears as an individual Israelite's name, but much more widely as a component indicating descent or familial relationship within personal and genealogical names.
Semantic Range
Ben (personal name), Ben as an abbreviated or patronymic proper name, son (in the sense of male child or descendant), prefix for descent in compound names
Root / Etymology
From the root ב־נ־ה (to build, construct, establish family). In this usage, the noun בֵּן ('son') is repurposed as a personal name or patronymic. The word can also serve as a generic prefix denoting 'son of' in compound names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
As a proper noun, 'Ben' appears infrequently and typically denotes individuality—likely a contraction or abbreviation of a longer theophoric or patronymic name. In biblical usage, בֵּן is far more common as a term for 'son,' denoting direct male offspring and, by extension, descendants or members of a group. The use of personal names meaning 'son' reflects an Israelite naming pattern similar to other Semitic cultures, where offspring status (especially for male heirs) is central to individual and societal identity. Modern translations often treat 'Ben' simply as a standalone name, but its original context often involved lineage or descent. In post-biblical and later Jewish usage, the prefix 'ben-' continues as a marker of descent but the word as a standalone name is rare. The English rendering 'Ben' as a name differs from the biblical intent, where descendancy was always in focus. Not to be confused with later ethnic or religious group terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as בֵּן; Ben, an Israelite; Ben.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בנה (b-n-h) — to build, construct, establish family
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1004 | בַּיִת | in the houses |
| H1005 | בַּיִת | the built-house |
| H1006 | בַּיִת | the house |
| H1007 | בֵּית אָוֶן | house-of |
| H1008 | בֵּית־אֵל | in house of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1122-01 |
בֵּ֡ן | ben | HNp |
Ben | son | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1122-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:18 | בֵּ֡ן | ben | HNp |
Ben | son |