Lexical Summary
Eben Haezer: Stone of Help
Original Word:אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר
Part of Speech:Noun
Transliteration:Eben ha-`ezer
Pronunciation:eh'-ben hah-ay'-zer
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'-ben haw-e'-zer)
KJV: Ebenezer
NASB:Ebenezer
Word Origin:[fromH68 (אֶבֶן - stones) andH5828 (עֵזֶר - help) with the article inserted]
1. stone of the help
2. Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ebenezer
From'eben andezer with the article inserted; stone of the help; Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Palestine -- Ebenezer.
see HEBREW'eben
see HEBREWezer
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
eben and
ezerDefinition"stone of the help," a place of unc. location, also a commemorative stone
NASB TranslationEbenezer (3).
Topical Lexicon
Etymology and MeaningAlthough primarily remembered as a place name, “Ebenezer” functions in Scripture as a memorial marker celebrating divine aid. The very naming of the site by Samuel (1 Samuel 7:12) is an acknowledgment that Israel’s survival, repentance, and victory were solely the Lord’s doing.
Geographical Context
Ebenezer lay in the hill country of Ephraim, positioned close to Aphek and within sight of Philistine territory. Its proximity to major north–south routes made it a logical rally point for Israelite forces and an equally strategic target for Philistine aggression.
Historical Narrative
1 Samuel 4–7 records three distinct moments tied to Ebenezer:
•1 Samuel 4:1 – Israel musters at Ebenezer before battling the Philistines. Confidence is placed in the Ark as an object rather than in the God who meets with His people. The ensuing defeat and capture of the Ark expose the futility of ritual divorced from obedience.
•1 Samuel 5:1 – The Philistines carry the Ark from Ebenezer to Ashdod. What they perceive as victory becomes judgment, as Dagon falls and the Philistine cities suffer plagues, demonstrating the Lord’s supremacy even in enemy hands.
•1 Samuel 7:12 – Following national repentance and Samuel’s intercessory leadership, the Lord routs the Philistines. “Afterward Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’”. The stone becomes a tangible witness to covenant faithfulness.
Theological Significance
1. Sovereignty of God: The same site that witnessed Israel’s humiliation later proclaims God’s rescuing power. The contrast underscores divine sovereignty over both defeat and victory (Psalm 115:3).
2. Repentance and Revival: Israel’s return to the Lord (1 Samuel 7:3–6) precedes deliverance. Ebenezer therefore links confession with renewal, illustrating the pattern found throughout Scripture (2 Chronicles 7:14).
3. Memorial Theology: Physical memorials serve to teach future generations (Joshua 4:6–7). Ebenezer functions as a pedagogy in stone, reminding Israel to interpret history through the lens of grace.
4. Typological Foreshadowing: The “stone” motif anticipates the Messiah, the ultimate “living stone” (1 Peter 2:4). As Ebenezer commemorated past help, Christ embodies present and future help (Hebrews 7:25).
Lessons for Faith and Ministry
• Reliance on God versus Reliance on Methods: Israel’s earlier trust in the Ark’s symbolic presence failed; only humble dependence on the Lord prevails. Modern ministry must guard against substituting programs or traditions for genuine faith.
• Importance of Spiritual Leadership: Samuel unites prophetic intercession and judicial authority, modeling holistic leadership that guides God’s people from defeat to victory.
• Practicing Remembrance: Congregations benefit from visible reminders—ordinances, testimonies, and shared stories—that keep corporate memory centered on divine faithfulness (Psalm 78:4).
• Perseverance: Samuel’s “Thus far” signals ongoing pilgrimage. Every Ebenezer points forward, encouraging believers to press on with confidence that the God who has helped will help again (Philippians 1:6).
Later Biblical Allusions and Christian Hymnody
While the Old Testament does not mention Ebenezer beyond 1 Samuel, its theology reverberates through later Scripture and church history. The hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” (Robert Robinson, 1758) popularized the phrase “Here I raise mine Ebenezer,” inviting worshipers to personalize the memorial concept: gratitude for past grace fuels trust for future trials.
Thus Ebenezer stands as more than an ancient boundary stone; it is a perpetual call to remember, repent, and rely on the God who helps His people from first to last.
Forms and Transliterations
הָעֵ֔זֶר הָעֵ֖זֶר הָעָ֑זֶר העזר hā‘āzer hā‘êzer hā·‘ā·zer hā·‘ê·zer haAzer haEzer
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