בֶּן־הֲדַד (ben-ha.dad)
ben-ha.dad
Ben-hadad
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Ben-hadad is a proper name meaning "son of Hadad," referring to two distinct kings of Aram (Syria) who opposed Israel during the divided monarchy. The first Ben-hadad was a contemporary of King Asa, while the second was the son of Hazael and faced prophets like Elisha. This name appears twenty-three times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the narratives of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles.
The etymology points to the Canaanite storm god Hadad, indicating that these rulers claimed divine lineage or favor. In the biblical text, both kings serve as major antagonists who challenge the authority of Israel’s leaders through military threats and political alliances. Their stories highlight the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the northern kingdom and its powerful Syrian neighbors.
Translators consistently render this name as Ben-hadad without alteration, preserving its identity as a specific historical figure rather than a generic title. The repetition of the name across different reigns underscores the persistent threat Aram posed to Judah and Israel during this era of biblical history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ben-hadad appears frequently in the Old Testament as a title for kings of Aram who stood in opposition to God’s people. It means "son of Hadad," linking these rulers to a foreign storm deity rather than the Lord of Israel. This distinction highlights a central theme in biblical history: the clash between earthly powers that rely on military strength and political alliances, and the kingdom of God which stands on faithfulness.
Reading about Ben-hadad reminds us that conflict is often part of the journey for those who follow God. In 1 Kings 20, we see a king who boasts of his power only to be defeated by a small band of Israelites. These accounts do not merely record ancient battles; they show that human arrogance cannot withstand divine purpose. When you face opposition or uncertainty, these stories offer a quiet assurance that no alliance against God’s people will ultimately succeed.
While the biblical text focuses on the political tension between Israel and Syria, the deeper lesson is about trust. The prophets Elisha and Elijah confronted these kings not with armies, but with the word of the Lord. This invites us to look beyond our immediate struggles and rest in the sovereignty of God, who holds the hearts of kings in His hand.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hadad24×
- Ben20×
- and/ Ben4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֶּן\־15×
- וּ/בֶן\־4×
- הֲדַ֥ד4×
- בֶן\־4×
- הֲדַ֣ד3×
- הֲדַ֔ד3×
- הֲדַד֙2×
- הֲדַ֜ד2×
- הֲדַ֗ד2×
- הֲדַ֖ד2×
- הֲדָֽד\׃\ \ס1×
- הֲדָֽד\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 20:10
Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
This verse captures the height of Ben-hadad’s arrogance as he swears by his gods that he will completely conquer Samaria, setting the stage for a dramatic divine reversal.
-
II Kings 8:7
Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick. He was told, “The man of God has come here.”
Here the name appears in a prophetic context where Elisha receives a vision of judgment, showing that even sick kings are subject to God’s sovereign plan through His prophets.
-
Amos 1:4
but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.
The prophet Amos uses this name to declare that God will judge the arrogance of Damascus, demonstrating that no foreign power is beyond His reach or justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Ben-hadad mean?
Are there multiple people named Ben-hadad in the Bible?
Why is Ben-hadad mentioned in the Prophets?
Every Occurrence (23 verses across 5 books)
I Kings 13 verses
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the…
I Kings 15:20Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and…
I Kings 20:1Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and…
I Kings 20:5The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver,…
I Kings 20:9Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the…
I Kings 20:10Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for…
I Kings 20:16They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two…
I Kings 20:17The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men…
I Kings 20:20They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse…
I Kings 20:26At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
I Kings 20:30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled…
I Kings 20:32So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant…
I Kings 20:33Now the men observed diligently and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said,…