בְּעֹן
𐤁𐤏𐤍
Beon
H1194 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun referring to a settlement or locality east of the Jordan River, likely in the territory traditionally associated with the tribe of Reuben. The precise origin of the name and the location are uncertain, but it denotes a geographical site mentioned in the context of boundary descriptions.
Semantic Range
proper noun designating a settlement east of the Jordan; geographic place-name; possibly associated with habitation or residence if root is related
Root / Etymology
The term's etymology is uncertain. Strong suggested it may be a shortened form of בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן (Bet Baʻal Mʻon, 'house of Baal-meon'), but no firm evidence confirms this; it could potentially derive from a root meaning 'residence' or 'habitation,' but the morphological structure is ambiguous and not attested in other names or forms. Thus, the origin remains unclear.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּעֹן (Beʻon) appears only in Numbers 32:3 as a locale on the eastern side of the Jordan, named alongside Dibon and Baʻal-Meon as a region requested by the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The exact relationship to Baʻal-Meon is uncertain; some propose it may be a variant or otherwise associated with that more prominent site, but it may also be a separate settlement. In later textual traditions, such as the LXX and Vulgate, transliteration of the name is preserved, reflecting the uncertainty about its meaning. The term does not carry theological or ethnic connotations—it is strictly a geographic designation—and should not be confused with other names containing similar roots. English translations generally preserve the transliterated form, but sometimes conflate it with Baal-meon or similar sites due to the similarity of their names.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably a contraction of בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן; Beon, a place East of the Jordan; Beon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly habitation, residence (speculative)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1194-01 |
וּ/בְעֹֽן | uveon | HC/Np |
and Beon | Beon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1194-01 |
Numbers 32:3 | וּ/בְעֹֽן | uveon | HC/Np |
and Beon | Beon |