אֲבָנָה
𐤀𐤁𐤍𐤄
Avanah
H71 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name referring to a watercourse or river in the vicinity of Damascus, most likely identified with a main river that played a significant role in the water system of ancient Aram-Damascus. The term occurs as a toponym, attested only in the singular and in a limited biblical context. While it appears to be a feminine formation, the lexical item functions solely as a geographic name rather than as a concrete noun indicating a physical object or quality.
Semantic Range
proper name of a river (toponym), possibly 'the stony (river)' by sense; no extended use to common noun or verb
Root / Etymology
From the root אבן (ʼ-b-n), meaning 'stone,' but the formation is distinct from the common noun אֶבֶן (even, 'stone') in that it is evidently used as a proper name for a river, possibly reflecting a meaning such as 'the stony (river)' in a descriptive or local sense rather than literal. The formation as a proper noun is likely a result of regional or dialectical development specific to the geography of Aram-Damascus. The similarity to the Hebrew root suggests a native Semitic etymology rather than a foreign loan, but direct evidence for the toponym outside the biblical text is scant.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֲבָנָה occurs at 2 Kings 5:12, in the context of Naaman the Aramean general comparing the rivers of Damascus (Abanah and Pharpar) to the Jordan. The form is treated as a proper noun and corresponds to one of the main rivers of Damascus, widely identified by scholars with the modern Barada River. Some ancient translations and manuscripts (e.g., the Septuagint) read 'Abana,' while others conflate or vary the name as 'Amanah,' reflecting textual fluidity. The possibility that the name derives from an adjectival form based on 'stone' could indicate a riverbed notable for its rocky features, yet the name in the biblical context functions primarily as a toponym for a significant geographic landmark in Aram. Unlike the term אֶבֶן ('stone'), אֲבָנָה does not occur in non-toponymic uses. The translation 'Abana' or 'Abanah' persists in English Bibles, but with little etymological explanation, often being retained as a transliterated proper name. Later Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions identified the Abanah with specific rivers near Damascus, but these later identifications, while influential, may not reflect the precise ancient reality. No later or modern Hebrew derivative of the root is connected to this specific toponym beyond its biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps feminine of אֶבֶן; stony; Compare אֲמָנָה.; Abanah, a river near Damascus; Abana.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H71-01 |
אבנה | vnh | HNp |
Abanah | Stony River | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H71-01 |
2 Kings 5:12 | אבנה | vnh | HNp |
Abanah | Stony River |