אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר
𐤀𐤁𐤍 𐤄𐤏𐤆𐤓
ʼEben hâ-ʻÊzer
H72 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun designating a specific location, meaning 'stone of the help' or 'stone of help.' The name is formed by the combination of 'stone' (אֶבֶן) and 'help' (עֵזֶר), with the definite article (ה) connecting them. In biblical contexts, אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר denotes the site of a significant event where a commemorative stone was set up to mark divine assistance granted to the Israelites in battle. The semantic range encompasses both the literal referent to the physical location and the commemorative aspect implied by the naming of the site.
Semantic Range
proper noun designating a memorial stone, place of commemoration for divine assistance; geographic location named 'stone of the help'; commemorative monument
Root / Etymology
From the noun אֶבֶן ('stone') and the noun עֵזֶר ('help, assistance'), joined by the definite article (ה) in a construct chain to form a proper name. The underlying roots are ב-נ-ה ('to build, stone' in the context of nouns) and ע-ז-ר ('to help, assist'). The name literally means 'the stone of the help.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר appears in 1 Samuel 4:1, 5:1, and 7:12 as a toponym marking a battlefield and a commemorative location. In 1 Samuel 7:12, Samuel sets up a stone and names it thus to memorialize a victory attributed to divine intervention on behalf of the Israelites (noting 'Thus far has YHWH helped us'). The place is remembered as a geographical site tied to historical memory and gratitude for past deliverance. 'Ebenezer' as used in older English translations can obscure this specific association to a physical monument and event among the Israelites. The term is not directly related to the later English or Christianized use of 'Ebenezer.' The name reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of marking significant locations with inscribed or named stones. Its use is mainly limited to the early monarchic period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֶבֶן and עֵזֶר with the article inserted; stone of the help; Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Palestine; Ebenezer.
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
| 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
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H72-04 |
הָעֵ֔זֶר | haezer | HNp |
Ebenezer | Stone of the Help | 2 |
H72-05 |
מֵ/אֶ֥בֶן | meeven | HC/Np |
from | from Stone of the Help | 1 |
H72-01 |
אֶ֣בֶן | even | HNp |
Eben | building-stone of | 1 |
H72-02 |
הָעָ֑זֶר | haazer | HNp |
ezer | Stone of the Help | 1 |
H72-03 |
הָ/אֶ֣בֶן | haeven | HTd/Np |
the stone | the building-stone | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H72-03 |
1 Samuel 4:1 | הָ/אֶ֣בֶן | haeven | HTd/Np |
the stone | the building-stone |
H72-04 |
1 Samuel 4:1 | הָעֵ֔זֶר | haezer | HNp |
of help | Stone of the Help |
H72-05 |
1 Samuel 5:1 | מֵ/אֶ֥בֶן | meeven | HC/Np |
from | from Stone of the Help |
H72-04 |
1 Samuel 5:1 | הָעֵ֖זֶר | haezer | HNp |
Ebenezer | Stone of the Help |
H72-01 |
1 Samuel 7:12 | אֶ֣בֶן | even-2 | HNp |
Eben | building-stone of |
H72-02 |
1 Samuel 7:12 | הָעָ֑זֶר | haazer | HNp |
ezer | Stone of the Help |