אֶ֫דֶן (e.den)
e.den
socket
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 39 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word aden refers to a base, pedestal, or socket that provides firm support for a structure. Derived from a root meaning strength, it describes the solid foundation upon which heavy pillars or planks rest. In the tabernacle instructions found in Exodus, this term appears frequently to specify the silver sockets into which the tent’s framework was inserted, ensuring the sanctuary remained stable and upright.
Its usage extends beyond religious architecture to describe the foundational bases of the earth itself, as seen in Job 38:6, where God asks who laid its cornerstone. It also appears in Song of Solomon 5:15 to describe the sturdy legs of a beloved’s body, likening them to pillars set upon these strong pedestals. The word consistently conveys durability and the capacity to bear weight.
Translators typically render aden as "socket" or "base," emphasizing its function as a hidden but essential support system. Whether describing the sacred furniture of the wilderness tabernacle or the structural integrity of creation, the term highlights how strength lies in what holds things together rather than what is merely visible on top.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aden describes a socket or base that holds heavy structures upright. In Exodus, God gave detailed instructions for silver sockets supporting the tabernacle’s boards. These hidden metal bases bore the weight of the sanctuary, ensuring it stood firm against wind and movement. The visible beauty of the gold and blue fabrics depended entirely on these sturdy, unseen foundations.
This image reminds us that true stability often comes from what lies beneath the surface. In our daily lives, we may feel like the exposed boards, subject to shifting circumstances. Yet faith provides the solid base that keeps us upright when pressures mount. Just as the tabernacle relied on its sockets, our spiritual endurance rests on God’s faithful support rather than our own strength.
When life feels unstable, remember that you are held by something stronger than your visible struggles. The same power that anchored the wilderness sanctuary supports your heart today. You do not need to carry the weight alone; the foundation is already in place.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 39 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ bases/ their19×
- bases15×
- bases of6×
- bases/ its5×
- [the] bases of5×
- and/ bases/ its3×
- bases/ their2×
- for <the>/ base1×
- and/ the/ bases1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַדְנֵי/הֶ֖ם9×
- וְ/אַדְנֵי/הֶ֥ם5×
- אַדְנֵי\־5×
- אֲדָנִ֔ים4×
- אֲדָנִ֛ים3×
- אֲדָנִ֗ים3×
- וַ/אֲדָנָֽי/ו\׃2×
- וְ/אַדְנֵי/הֶ֣ם2×
- אַדְנֵי/הֶ֖ם2×
- אַדְנֵ֣י2×
- אֲדָנִ֜ים2×
- אֲדָנִ֑ים2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 26:19
You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.
This verse establishes the specific design of two sockets per board, showing how precise engineering ensured the tabernacle’s structural integrity.
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Exodus 27:10
Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
The use of bronze sockets for the outer court highlights a different kind of durability suited for the larger enclosure surrounding the sanctuary.
-
Exodus 36:30
There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
During construction, this repetition confirms that every board had exactly two supporting sockets, emphasizing consistency in God’s instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word aden mean?
Where does aden appear in the Bible?
Why are sockets important in the tabernacle description?
Every Occurrence (39 verses across 4 books)
Exodus 33 verses
You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two…
Exodus 26:21and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 26:25There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets…
Exodus 26:32You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
Exodus 26:37You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You…
Exodus 27:10Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be…
Exodus 27:11Likewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 27:12For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
Exodus 27:14The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:15For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:16For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen,…
Exodus 27:17All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
Exodus 27:18The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of…
Exodus 35:11the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;
Exodus 35:17the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;
Exodus 36:24He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two…
Exodus 36:26and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 36:30There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
Exodus 36:36He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of…
Exodus 36:38and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five…
Exodus 38:10their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of…
Exodus 38:11For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the…
Exodus 38:12For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars,…
Exodus 38:14the hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
Exodus 38:15and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their…
Exodus 38:17The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals…
Exodus 38:19Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their…
Exodus 38:27The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: one…
Exodus 38:30With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the…
Exodus 38:31the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins…
Exodus 39:33They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars,…
Exodus 39:40the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 40:18Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its…