אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven)
e.ven
stone
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun e.ven simply means "stone." It appears in just seven verses, primarily within the books of Daniel and Ezra. In these contexts, it refers to physical rock used for construction or material carved into idols.
While the word is straightforward, its limited usage highlights specific historical moments. In Ezra, stones form the foundation of the temple, representing stability and divine presence. In Daniel, they appear in visions of empires rising and falling, grounding abstract prophecy in tangible reality.
The term carries no hidden metaphorical weight here; it denotes the literal object. Translators consistently render it as "stone," preserving the concrete nature of the text. This simplicity allows readers to focus on the narrative role of the material rather than searching for deeper linguistic nuance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word e.ven simply means stone. In Ezra, builders used great stones for the temple foundation. This shows God’s work is built on solid ground. In Daniel, visions use stones to show empires rising and falling. The imagery turns abstract prophecy into something you can see and touch.
These uses remind us that God’s plans are real. They are not vague ideas but firm truths. When we face change or uncertainty, we can trust in what is solid. The stone cut without hands shows God’s power over human kingdoms. It points to a kingdom that will never end.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- stone of2×
- and/ <the>/ stone2×
- a stone2×
- and/ stone/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַבְנָֽ/א\׃1×
- וְ/אַבְנָ֣/א\׀1×
- וְ/אַבְנָ֗/א1×
- אֶ֤בֶן1×
- אֶ֣בֶן1×
- אֶ֜בֶן1×
- אֶ֙בֶן֙1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:34
You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
This verse introduces the stone cut without hands, marking the start of God’s decisive action against earthly empires.
-
Daniel 2:35
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Here the stone becomes a great mountain, showing how God’s kingdom grows to fill the whole earth after destroying false powers.
-
Ezra 5:8
Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
The use of great stones for the temple foundation highlights the stability and divine presence in rebuilding God’s house.