Lexical Summary
eben: stones, stone, weight
Original Word:אֶבֶן
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:eben
Pronunciation:EH-ben
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'-ben)
KJV: + carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s)
NASB:stones, stone, weight, differing weights, weights, rock, another
Word Origin:[from the root ofH1129 (בָּנָה - built) through the meaning to build]
1. a stone
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to build, a stone, diverse weights
From the root ofbanah through the meaning to build; a stone -- + carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
see HEBREWbanah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitiona stone
NASB Translationanother (1), charm* (1), cornerstone* (1), death (1), differing weights (3), hailstones* (4), jeweler* (1), lapis lazuli* (1), line* (1), plumb line (1), plumb* (1), rock (2), rocks (1), slingstones* (1), stone (106), stonecutters* (1), stonemasons* (1), stones (125), weight (4), weights (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
274Genesis 29:2 (
1Samuel 17:40 ?) stone (Assyrian
abnu, = the sharp, projecting ? see Dl
W, Pr 107; Phoenician ; Aramaic ,
; Ethiopic
Sabean [] DHM
ZMG 1883, 341) — absolute
Genesis 28:22 +;
Genesis 11:3 +; construct
Genesis 49:24 +; suffix
2 Kings 3:25;
Genesis 31:46 +, etc.; — a
stone (large or small).
Genesis 28:11,18 (E); seatExodus 17:12 (E); cover of wellGenesis 29:2,3(twice in verse);Genesis 29:8,10 (J); causing one to stumbleIsaiah 8:14; marring good ground2 Kings 3:19,25; hand-missleExodus 21:18 (JE)Numbers 35:17,23 (P)2 Samuel 16:6,13, especially in judicial stoning, with verbLeviticus 20:2,27;Leviticus 24:23;Numbers 14:10;Numbers 15:35,36;Joshua 7:25 a (all P), so alsoDeuteronomy 21:21; 2Chronicles 24:21;Ezekiel 16:40;Ezekiel 23:47; compare1 Kings 12:18 2Chronicles 10:18; with verbDeuteronomy 13:11;Deuteronomy 17:5;Deuteronomy 22:21,24;1 Kings 21:13; alsoJoshua 7:25b (J E or D); sling-stonesJudges 20:16;1 Samuel 17:40,49 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 17:50; 2Chronicles 26:14; hurled by engines 2 Chronicles 26:15; set up for inscribing lawDeuteronomy 27:2,4,8;Joshua 8:32 (all D); as memorialJoshua 4:3,5,6,7,8,9,20,21 (J E D)1 Samuel 7:12; as sacred pillar ()Genesis 28:18;Genesis 35:14 (anointed with oil),Genesis 28:22 (= ) compareGenesis 49:24 (see Di); as witnessGenesis 31:45 compareJoshua 24:26,27 (all J E); plural gathered into heap () over dead,Joshua 7:26 (see Di)Joshua 8:29; compareJoshua 10:18,27 (JE)2 Samuel 18:17; on which meal was eaten, in a compactGenesis 31:46 (twice in verse) (JE); built into altarExodus 20:25;Deuteronomy 27:5,6 (J E D)Joshua 8:31;1 Kings 18:31,32,38; compare2 Kings 23:15 Klo (for ); of figured stone (forbidden)Leviticus 26:1 (H) ; where ark rested1 Samuel 6:14,15 also1 Samuel 6:18 ( q. v.); (see for other note-worthy stones below
stone, as material, of tabletsExodus 24:12;Exodus 31:18;Exodus 34:1 (plural)Exodus 34:4;Exodus 34:4 (JE)Deuteronomy 4:13;Deuteronomy 5:19;Deuteronomy 9:9,10,11;Deuteronomy 10:1,3; of vessels, hence probablyExodus 7:19 (P; = vessels of stone "" ) see Di; idols ("" )Deuteronomy 4:28;Deuteronomy 28:36,64;Deuteronomy 29:16;2 Kings 19:18 =Isaiah 37:19; alsoJeremiah 3:9;Ezekiel 20:32; pavement2 Kings 16:17; edifice1 Kings 6:7 compareGenesis 11:3; also2 Samuel 5:11;2 Kings 12:13;1 Chronicles 22:15; often plural of (worked) stonesLeviticus 14:40,42 (twice in verse);Leviticus 14:43,45 (P; in wall of house)2 Kings 22:6 +, compare of city-wallNehemiah 3:35; of (ruined) city1 Kings 15:22;Nehemiah 3:34; tombIsaiah 14:19; (costly building-stones)1 Kings 5:31;1 Kings 7:9,10,11 (see also below
); = marble (see )1 Chronicles 29:2; =hewn stones1 Kings 5:31;1 Chronicles 22:2;Ezekiel 40:42 (for altar-tables), — compare ;2 Kings 12:13;2 Kings 22:6; 2Chronicles 34:11; foundation-stone, corner-stoneIsaiah 28:16;Jeremiah 51:26;Job 38:6;Psalm 118:22; cap-stone, completing the building,Zechariah 4:7 (but seePsalm 118:22 as above),Zechariah 3:9upon one stone seven eyes, probably refers to this cap- or head-stone; the eyes are symbol of God's watchfulness; perhaps explaining cup-stones found in Orient, see GutheZPV 1890, 129;stone-cutters2 Samuel 5:11;1 Chronicles 22:15;2 Kings 12:13 compare1 Chronicles 22:2.precious stones, Generally with modifying word collective2 Samuel 12:30;1 Kings 10:2 + often (see );Genesis 2:12 (J) compareExodus 25:7;Exodus 28:9;Exodus 35:9,27;Exodus 39:6 (P)1 Chronicles 29:2;Exodus 25:7;Exodus 35:9,27 compare1 Chronicles 29:2;Ezekiel 1:26;Ezekiel 10:1;Isaiah 54:12;ib.;1 Chronicles 29:2;Proverbs 17:8; on (stones of fire)Ezekiel 28:14,16 as precious stones = Assyrianaban išâti (?) see DlPa 118 & W 40; but Sm and othersthunderbolts; also without distinctive modifierExodus 25:7;Exodus 35:9; engraver in stoneExodus 28:11; compareExodus 31:5;Exodus 35:33 (P).
stones containing metal, =ore,Deuteronomy 8:9 (see Di)Job 28:2 compareJob 28:3.
, originally stone (seeProverbs 27:3 compare English weightstone = 14 lb)Proverbs 16:11 (compare Assyrian DlW 38);2 Samuel 14:26 (i.e. accusative to royal standard; compare COTGenesis 23:16);Deuteronomy 25:13;Proverbs 20:10,23 (i.e. different weights, for dishonest use);Micah 6:11; just weightsLeviticus 19:36;Proverbs 11:1; hence also heavy mass of metal (lead)Zechariah 5:8.
plummetIsaiah 34:11 (stones of devastation, oremptiness, compare on sense2 Kings 21:13;Amos 7:7,8); also made of metalZechariah 4:10 (conversely plummet fromplumbum).
hail, explicitly,Joshua 10:11 compareIsaiah 30:30;Ezekiel 13:11,18;Ezekiel 38:22; but alsoJoshua 10:11 (E) (compare Assyrian DlW 38); lime-stonesIsaiah 27:9.
in simile (mostly poetry) of sinking in waterExodus 15:5 =Nehemiah 9:11; motionlessnessExodus 15:16; strengthJob 6:12; firmnessJob 41:16; solidity (of ice)Job 38:30; in prose, of commonness1 Kings 10:27; 2Chronicles 1:15; also metaphor of one in fear1 Samuel 25:37 (i.e.653petrified with terror, compareExodus 15:16 above); = perverse, hard heartEzekiel 11:19;Ezekiel 36:26;Zechariah 9:16 (of ransomed Israel) — personifiedHabakkuk 2:11 compareHabakkuk 2:19; compareEzekiel 13:11 (see above)
(nearly = proper name);Joshua 15:6;Joshua 18:17;1 Samuel 5:1; compare1 Samuel 7:12, also1 Samuel 4:1 (We Dr);1 Samuel 20:19, read see here &1 Samuel 20:41 (We Dr Klo);1 Kings 1:9 (where WeSkizzen III, 171 compare ArabicZuhal = Saturn).
(probably); — so read1 Samuel 20:19 (for ),1 Samuel 20:41 (for ), (), Th We Klo Dr Kit Bu HPS.
Daniel 2:34 (Biblical Hebrewid.); — absoluteDaniel 2:34 +; emphaticDaniel 2:35; —
a (the) stoneDaniel 2:34,35,45;Daniel 6:18.
stone, material of idolsDaniel 5:4,23; of buildingsEzra 5:8;Ezra 6:4.
Topical Lexicon
Material Reality and Everyday UseIn the ancient Near East a stone (אֶבֶן, ʾeven) was the most accessible and durable building material. Because of its hardness it appears repeatedly in association with town walls (Joshua 6:5), house foundations (1 Kings 5:17), paving (2 Chronicles 7:3), mill-stones for grinding grain (Deuteronomy 24:6), and weight-stones in commerce (Leviticus 19:36;Proverbs 16:11). The prevalence of stone implements explains why the word occurs more than two hundred seventy times in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Building and Architecture
Stones shaped entire cities. Solomon “commanded that they quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with hewn stones” (1 Kings 5:17). Fortification projects under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:5) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:2) both refer to the reuse of burnt stones from earlier ruins. The stability of stone lent itself to metaphors for God’s faithfulness: “For their rock is not like our Rock” (Deuteronomy 32:31), a comparison that presupposes the reliability associated with stone.
Foundations, Cornerstones and Capstones
Foundation stones picture permanence (Job 38:6) and a cornerstone represents order and alignment (Isaiah 28:16). The “chief cornerstone” theme ultimately anticipates Messiah, for Isaiah writes, “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). This text underlies New Testament citations such as1 Peter 2:6.
Memorial Stones and Covenant Witnesses
Stones often memorialize divine encounters. Jacob raised a pillar at Bethel: “He took the stone he had placed under his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top” (Genesis 28:18). Later he erected another pillar to mark Rachel’s tomb (Genesis 35:20). Joshua set up twelve stones at Gilgal to commemorate crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:20-24). Samuel raised a stone between Mizpah and Shen, naming it Ebenezer—“Stone of Help”—saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). Such monuments were not idols but tangible testimonies reminding later generations of covenant faithfulness.
Boundary and Legal Stones
Boundary stones protected tribal or family inheritance: “Do not move an ancient boundary stone” (Proverbs 22:28; cf.Deuteronomy 19:14). Because Yahweh himself allotted the land, tampering with a stone marker violated divine order. Judicial assemblies also used stones: infractions meriting capital punishment ended in stoning (Leviticus 20:2;Numbers 15:35-36), underscoring community participation in purging evil.
Altar Stones and Sacrifice
Uncut stones were commanded for certain altars so that no human tool would profane them (Exodus 20:25). When Israel entered Canaan, an altar of unhewn stones was erected on Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:31). The prohibition against shaping the stones paralleled the rejection of human innovation in worship and foreshadowed the sufficiency of God’s provision.
Tablets of Stone
The Ten Commandments were “written on both sides, inscribed by the finger of God” on stone tablets (Exodus 32:15-16). The medium matches the message: divine law is as enduring as the rock into which it was carved (Deuteronomy 10:1-5).
Stones as Instruments of Judgment and Deliverance
Stones fell from heaven against the Amorites (Joshua 10:11), reminding Israel that God fights for his people. David’s sling stone felled Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49), demonstrating salvation by divine power rather than by human might (compareZechariah 4:6-7, where the “capstone” reappears as a victory emblem).
Metaphorical and Prophetic Uses
1. Stumbling Stone: Isaiah foretells, “He will be a sanctuary—but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14).
2. Hard Heart of Stone vs. Heart of Flesh: Ezekiel promises, “I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
3. Precious Stones: imagery of priestly breastpiece (Exodus 28:17-20) and future glory (Isaiah 54:11-12) highlight God’s beauty and value.
Messianic Fulfillment
The Old Testament’s various stone motifs converge in Jesus Christ.Psalm 118:22 declares, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This verse is quoted inMatthew 21:42,Acts 4:11, and1 Peter 2:7 to affirm that Jesus, though rejected, is the essential cornerstone of God’s redemptive temple. Daniel’s vision of a stone “cut out, but not by human hands” that crushes the kingdoms of the world (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) foreshadows the everlasting kingdom established through the Messiah.
Ministerial and Devotional Implications
• The durability of stone calls believers to steadfastness in doctrine and life (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• Memorial stones encourage retelling mighty acts of God to the next generation, fostering corporate memory in worship and teaching.
• Boundary stones caution against compromising inherited truth (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
• The cornerstone metaphor exhorts every ministry to align with Christ alone (Ephesians 2:20).
• The replacement of a heart of stone with a heart of flesh motivates prayers for regeneration and sanctification.
Thus the simple noun אֶבֶן functions as a richly layered thread in the tapestry of revelation, linking creation, covenant, law, worship, judgment, and ultimately the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲבָנִ֑ים אֲבָנִ֔ים אֲבָנִ֖ים אֲבָנִ֗ים אֲבָנִ֜ים אֲבָנִ֣ים אֲבָנִ֣ים ׀ אֲבָנִ֤ים אֲבָנִ֤ים ׀ אֲבָנִ֥ים אֲבָנִ֧ים אֲבָנִ֨ים אֲבָנִֽים׃ אֲבָנִים֙ אֲבָנֶ֑יהָ אֲבָנֶ֔יהָ אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ אֲבָנַ֔יִךְ אֲבָנָ֣יו אֲבָנָֽיו׃ אֲבָנָיו֙ אֶ֔בֶן אֶ֖בֶן אֶ֙בֶן֙ אֶ֛בֶן אֶ֜בֶן אֶ֝בֶן אֶ֣בֶן אֶ֤בֶן אֶ֥בֶן אֶ֧בֶן אֶ֨בֶן אֶ֭בֶן אֶֽבֶן־ אֶבֶן֒ אַבְנ֜וֹ אַבְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֤י אַבְנֵ֥י אַבְנֵי֙ אַבְנֵי־ אַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ אָ֑בֶן אָֽבֶן׃ אבן אבן־ אבן׃ אבנו אבני אבני־ אבניה אבניהם׃ אבניו אבניו׃ אבניך אבנים אבנים׃ בְּאֶ֖בֶן בְּאֶ֣בֶן בְּאֶ֥בֶן בְּאַבְנֵ֣י בָּֽאֲבָנִ֔ים בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים בָּאֲבָנִ֣ים בָּאֲבָנִֽים׃ בָּאֲבָנִים֙ בָּאֲבָנִים֮ בָּאֶ֛בֶן בָּאֶ֣בֶן בָּאָ֑בֶן בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים בָאָֽבֶן׃ באבן באבן׃ באבני באבנים באבנים׃ הָ֣אֲבָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲבָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲבָנִים֙ הָאֲבָנִ֑ים הָאֲבָנִ֔ים הָאֲבָנִ֖ים הָאֲבָנִ֗ים הָאֲבָנִ֛ים הָאֲבָנִ֣ים הָאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֲבָנִ֨ים הָאֶ֔בֶן הָאֶ֖בֶן הָאֶ֗בֶן הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ הָאֶ֛בֶן הָאֶ֣בֶן הָאֶ֤בֶן הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאֶ֧בֶן האבן האבנים וְ֝אֶ֗בֶן וְ֠הָאֲבָנִים וְאֶ֖בֶן וְאֶ֣בֶן וְאֶ֥בֶן וְאַ֨בְנֵי־ וְאַבְנֵ֖י וְאַבְנֵ֣י וְאַבְנֵ֥י וְאַבְנֵ֨י וְאַבְנֵי־ וְהָאֲבָנִ֖ים וְהָאֶ֣בֶן וְהָאֶ֥בֶן וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ וַאֲבָנִים֙ וַאֲבָנַ֤יִךְ וָ֭אֶבֶן וָאֶ֔בֶן וָאֶ֖בֶן וָאָ֑בֶן וָאָֽבֶן׃ וּבְאֶ֥בֶן וּבָאֲבָנִ֖ים וּבָאֲבָנִֽים׃ וּבָאֶ֔בֶן וּלְאֶ֣בֶן וּלְאַבְנֵ֖י ואבן ואבן׃ ואבני ואבני־ ואבניך ואבנים ובאבן ובאבנים ובאבנים׃ והאבן והאבנים ולאבן ולאבני כְּאֶ֣בֶן כְּאַבְנֵי־ כָּ֭אֶבֶן כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים כָּאָ֑בֶן כאבן כאבני־ כאבנים לְאֶ֣בֶן לְאַבְנֵ֣י לְאַבְנֵי־ לְאָ֔בֶן לְאָֽבֶן׃ לָאֲבָנִ֥ים לאבן לאבן׃ לאבני לאבני־ לאבנים מֵאֶ֔בֶן מֵאַבְנֵ֣י מאבן מאבני ’ă·ḇā·na·yiḵ ’ă·ḇā·nāw ’ă·ḇā·ne·hā ’ă·ḇā·nîm ’ā·ḇen ’aḇ·nê ’aḇ·nê- ’aḇ·nê·hem ’aḇ·nōw ’ăḇānāw ’ăḇānayiḵ ’ăḇānehā ’ăḇānîm ’āḇen ’aḇnê ’aḇnê- ’aḇnêhem ’aḇnōw ’e·ḇen ’e·ḇen- ’eḇen ’eḇen- avaNav avaNayich avaNeiha avaNim Aven avnei avneiHem avNo bā’ăḇānîm ḇā’ăḇānîm bā’āḇen ḇā’āḇen bā’eḇen bā·’ă·ḇā·nîm ḇā·’ă·ḇā·nîm bā·’ā·ḇen ḇā·’ā·ḇen bā·’e·ḇen baavaNim baAven baEven bə’aḇnê bə’eḇen bə·’aḇ·nê bə·’e·ḇen beavNei beEven Even hā’ăḇānîm hā’eḇen hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm hā·’e·ḇen haavaNim haEven kā’ăḇānîm kā’āḇen kā’eḇen kā·’ă·ḇā·nîm kā·’ā·ḇen kā·’e·ḇen kaavaNim kaAven Kaeven kə’aḇnê- kə’eḇen kə·’aḇ·nê- kə·’e·ḇen keavnei keEven lā’ăḇānîm lā·’ă·ḇā·nîm laavaNim lə’āḇen lə’aḇnê lə’aḇnê- lə’eḇen lə·’ā·ḇen lə·’aḇ·nê lə·’aḇ·nê- lə·’e·ḇen leAven leavNei leEven mê’aḇnê mê’eḇen mê·’aḇ·nê mê·’e·ḇen meavNei meEven ū·ḇā·’ă·ḇā·nîm ū·ḇā·’e·ḇen ū·ḇə·’e·ḇen ū·lə·’aḇ·nê ū·lə·’e·ḇen ūḇā’ăḇānîm ūḇā’eḇen ūḇə’eḇen ūlə’aḇnê ūlə’eḇen uleavNei uleEven uvaavaNim uvaEven uvEven vaavaNayich vaavaNim vaAven vaEven veavNei veEven Vehaavanim vehaEven velaEven wa’ăḇānayiḵ wa’ăḇānîm wā’āḇen wā’eḇen wa·’ă·ḇā·na·yiḵ wa·’ă·ḇā·nîm wā·’ā·ḇen wā·’e·ḇen wə’aḇnê wə’aḇnê- wə’eḇen wə·’aḇ·nê wə·’aḇ·nê- wə·’e·ḇen wə·hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm wə·hā·’e·ḇen wə·lā·’e·ḇen wəhā’ăḇānîm wəhā’eḇen wəlā’eḇen
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