הָ/אֶ֛בֶן
𐤄/𐤀𐤁𐤍
ʼeben
the stone
A solid piece of mineral matter, 'stone' in a physical or symbolic sense. Commonly refers to naturally occurring stones used in construction, markers, tools, or cultic contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, 'אֶבֶן' functions as a general term for a stone or rock, but also carries extended meanings, including a precious stone, an object for weighing (weight), or a term for a building component. In poetic and metaphorical contexts, can denote firmness, durability, or foundational quality. The word is also used idiomatically (e.g., 'stone of stumbling').
jiwe "stone" (Swahili) · ibuye "stone, rock" (Bemba) · bwe "stone" (Tonga (Zambia)) +4 moreGenesis 29:3 · Word #16
Lexicon H68
| Lemma | אֶבֶן |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤁𐤍 |
| Transliteration | ʼeben |
| Strong's | H68 |
| Definition | A solid piece of mineral matter, 'stone' in a physical or symbolic sense. Commonly refers to naturally occurring stones used in construction, markers, tools, or cultic contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, 'אֶבֶן' functions as a general term for a stone or rock, but also carries extended meanings, including a precious stone, an object for weighing (weight), or a term for a building component. In poetic and metaphorical contexts, can denote firmness, durability, or foundational quality. The word is also used idiomatically (e.g., 'stone of stumbling'). |
Morphology HTd/Ncfsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | f — Feminine — Feminine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | the stone |
SIBI-P1 Translation H68-16
the building-stone
| Morphological Notes | Noun, common, feminine singular absolute with definite article (הָ). |
| Rendering Rationale | The definite feminine singular noun with article (הָ) is rendered "the building-stone" to preserve both its morphology and its derivation from בנה (to build), highlighting its role as a foundational construction element while retaining the concrete sense of stone. |
View full lexicon entry for H68 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
the stone
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | 'The building-stone' is needlessly specific; 'the stone' matches the narrative context of the stone covering the well. |
Bantu Hebrew
הָ/אֶ֛בֶן (ʼeben) — A solid piece of mineral matter, 'stone' in a physical or symbolic sense. Commonly refers to naturally occurring stones used in construction, markers, tools, or cultic contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, 'אֶבֶן' functions as a general term for a stone or rock, but also carries extended meanings, including a precious stone, an object for weighing (weight), or a term for a building component. In poetic and metaphorical contexts, can denote firmness, durability, or foundational quality. The word is also used idiomatically (e.g., 'stone of stumbling').
| Word | Meaning | Language |
|---|---|---|
| jiwe | stone | Swahili |
| ibuye | stone, rock | Bemba |
| bwe | stone | Tonga (Zambia) |
| bwe | stone | Chichewa |
| ebbuwu | stone | Luganda |
| ibuye | stone | Kirundi |
| ibuye | stone | Kinyarwanda |