אֶצְבּוֹן
𐤀𐤑𐤁𐤅𐤍
Etsebon
H675 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Etsbon – a proper name referencing two individuals in the genealogies of the Israelite tribes, specifically a son of Gad and a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin. The name's lexical meaning is uncertain; it functions exclusively as a personal name with no attested meaning outside this context.
Semantic Range
personal name (used only as a proper noun in genealogical lists; no attested common noun or other usage in biblical Hebrew)
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The name has been variously connected to the root אצב (to grasp or to shape, possibly related to 'finger' אֶצְבַּע), though there is no clear evidence linking the name's formation to this root in biblical usage. The final nun (ן) functions as part of the nominal form, but its function as a meaningful suffix is not established in this case.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֶצְבּוֹן appears only as a personal name in the genealogical lists (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:16; 1 Chronicles 7:7). There is no evidence that the name was used as a common noun or with a concrete meaning in biblical Hebrew. Interpretation of the name's meaning in translation tradition is speculative and not reflected in the biblical text itself. Both individuals bearing this name are listed within genealogical records concerning the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Benjamin, reflecting the significance of family lineages in Israelite society. The use and formation of such short personal names are common in these lists; some may have been derived from roots associated with characteristics or physical traits, but in the case of אֶצְבּוֹן, no such semantic link can be clearly established. English Bibles typically render the name as "Ezbon," but this reflects the transliteration tradition rather than a calculated semantic rendering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
lemma אֶצְבּוֹ missing final nun, corrected to אֶצְבּוֹן; or אֶצְבֹּן; of uncertain derivation; Etsbon, the name of two Israelites; Ezbon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly grasping, shaping, fingering (unestablished)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H675-02 |
וְ/אֶצְבֹּ֑ן | veetsebon | HC/Np |
and Ezbon | and Etsbon | 1 |
H675-01 |
אֶצְבּ֡וֹן | etsebon | HNp |
Ezbon | Etsbon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H675-02 |
Genesis 46:16 | וְ/אֶצְבֹּ֑ן | veetsebon | HC/Np |
and Ezbon | and Etsbon |
H675-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:7 | אֶצְבּ֡וֹן | etsebon | HNp |
Ezbon | Etsbon |