אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר

𐤀𐤁𐤍 𐤄𐤏𐤆𐤓

ʼEben hâ-ʻÊzer

H72 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אבן, עזר to build, stone, help, assist

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

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Root 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