אֹבֶן
𐤀𐤁𐤍
ʼôben
H70 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device consisting of two horizontal stone disks set parallel to one another with a vertical support—used either as a potter's wheel for shaping pottery or as a birthing-stool for assisting women during childbirth. In both cases, the object functions as a supportive, rotating or resting platform formed from paired stones.
Semantic Range
potter's wheel, birthing stool, pair of stone disks (for technical uses); sometimes more generically as a device of paired stones for artisan or practical purposes
Root / Etymology
From the root אבן (ʼ-b-n), which generally means 'stone.' The dual form אֹבֶן specifically refers to a pair of stones used for specialized purposes—either as balanced wheels/disks or as a stool for support. The semantic development is likely metaphorical, extending 'stone' to the domain of crafted implements that utilize dual rock components.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term אֹבֶן appears only in the dual form and is preserved in biblical usage as a technical or specialized object, rather than referring to common stones. In Jeremiah 18:3, it denotes the potter's wheel, an apparatus composed of two stone disks: the lower disk for rotation with the foot, and the upper as a surface for shaping clay. In Exodus 1:16, it describes the midwife's birthing stool, reflecting an ancient practice where women birthed while supported by such a device; the text's reference is anatomical, emphasizing the position of the parturient relative to the tool. In later Jewish tradition, these meanings remained technical, and the words for 'wheel' or 'stool' in post-biblical Hebrew are formed differently. The KJV and other English translations reflect varying approaches, sometimes rendering with 'wheel' and other times with 'stool,' and usually omit the implication of 'pair of stones.' The term is absent from poetic or common speech, restricted to technical or professional contexts (pottery, midwifery).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as אֶבֶן; a pair of stones (only dual); a potter's wheel or a midwife's stool (consisting alike of two horizontal disks with a support between); wheel, stool.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אבן (ʾ-b-n) — stone, stoniness, building
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H70-01 |
הָ/אָבְנָ֑יִם | haavenayim | HTd/Ncmda |
the birthstool, | the paired stone-disks | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H70-01 |
Exodus 1:16 | הָ/אָבְנָ֑יִם | haavenayim | HTd/Ncmda |
the birthstool, | the paired stone-disks |
H70-01 |
Jeremiah 18:3 | הָ/אָבְנָֽיִם | haavenayim | HTd/Ncmda |
the wheels | the paired stone-disks |