בֵּן
son
also: grandson, child fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Construct-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
- Proper
- A name of a specific person, place, or people (e.g. Abraham, Zion, Israel).
- Gentilic
- A noun naming a member of a people, tribe, or region of origin (e.g. an Israelite, a Moabite).
State
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
Number
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
- Singular
- One.
Page 2 of 2 — showing verses 201–250 of 250 distinct verses where H1121 appears in the Construct state in the Book of Genesis. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Genesis
- Genesis 42:11 בְּנֵ֥י n c mp cs We are all one man's sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
- Genesis 42:13 בְּנֵ֥י n c mp cs They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more."
- Genesis 42:32 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.'
- Genesis 42:37 בָנַ/י֙ n c mp cs + sfx pers 1cs Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Kill my two sons, if I don't bring him to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again."
- Genesis 42:38 בְּנִ֖/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs He said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him by the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol."
- Genesis 43:29 בֶּן בְּנִֽ/י n c ms cs n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?" He said, "God be gracious to you, my son."
- Genesis 45:9 בִּנְ/ךָ֣ n c ms cs + sfx pers 2ms Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, 'This is what your son Joseph says, "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don't wait.
- Genesis 45:10 וּ/בָנֶ֖י/ךָ וּ/בְנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑י/ךָ conj + n c mp cs + sfx pers 2ms conj + n c mp cs n c mp cs + sfx pers 2ms You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children's children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
- Genesis 45:21 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
- Genesis 45:28 בְּנִ֖/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
- Genesis 46:5 בְנֵֽי n c mp cs Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
- Genesis 46:7 בָּנָ֞י/ו וּ/בְנֵ֤י בָנָי/ו֙ בָּנָ֖י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms conj + n c mp cs n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and he brought all his seed with him into Egypt.
- Genesis 46:8 בְּנֵֽי וּ/בָנָ֑י/ו n c mp cs conj + n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.
- Genesis 46:9 וּ/בְנֵ֖י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
- Genesis 46:10 וּ/בְנֵ֣י בֶּן conj + n c mp cs n c ms cs The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
- Genesis 46:11 וּ/בְנֵ֖י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- Genesis 46:12 וּ/בְנֵ֣י בְנֵי conj + n c mp cs n c mp cs The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
- Genesis 46:13 וּ/בְנֵ֖י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.
- Genesis 46:14 וּ/בְנֵ֖י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
- Genesis 46:15 בְּנֵ֣י בָּנָ֛י/ו n c mp cs n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.
- Genesis 46:16 וּ/בְנֵ֣י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
- Genesis 46:17 וּ/בְנֵ֣י וּ/בְנֵ֣י conj + n c mp cs conj + n c mp cs The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
- Genesis 46:18 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.
- Genesis 46:19 בְּנֵ֤י n c mp cs The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.
- Genesis 46:21 וּ/בְנֵ֣י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
- Genesis 46:22 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
- Genesis 46:23 וּ/בְנֵי conj + n c mp cs The son of Dan: Hushim.
- Genesis 46:24 וּ/בְנֵ֖י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
- Genesis 46:25 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven.
- Genesis 46:26 בְנֵי n c mp cs All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct descendants, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were sixty-six.
- Genesis 46:27 וּ/בְנֵ֥י conj + n c mp cs The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy.
- Genesis 47:29 לִ/בְנ֣/וֹ prep + n c ms cs + sfx pers 3ms The time drew near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don't bury me in Egypt,
- Genesis 48:1 בָנָי/ו֙ n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms It happened after these things, that someone said to Joseph, "Behold, your father is sick." He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
- Genesis 48:2 בִּנְ/ךָ֥ n c ms cs + sfx pers 2ms Someone told Jacob, and said, "Behold, your son Joseph comes to you," and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.
- Genesis 48:5 בָנֶי/ךָ֩ n c mp cs + sfx pers 2ms Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine.
- Genesis 48:8 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
- Genesis 48:9 בָּנַ֣/י n c mp cs + sfx pers 1cs Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." He said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."
- Genesis 48:19 בְנִ/י֙ n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs His father refused, and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become a multitude of nations."
- Genesis 49:1 בָּנָ֑י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms Jacob called to his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
- Genesis 49:2 בְּנֵ֣י n c mp cs Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob; Listen to Israel, your father.
- Genesis 49:8 בְּנֵ֥י n c mp cs "Judah, your brothers will praise you: Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's sons will bow down before you.
- Genesis 49:9 בְּנִ֣/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, As a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
- Genesis 49:11 בְּנִ֣י n c ms cs Binding his foal to the vine, His donkey's colt to the choice vine; He has washed his garments in wine, His robes in the blood of grapes:
- Genesis 49:32 בְּנֵי n c mp cs the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth."
- Genesis 49:33 בָּנָ֔י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms When Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered to his people.
- Genesis 50:12 בָנָ֖י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms His sons did to him just as he commanded them,
- Genesis 50:13 בָנָי/ו֙ n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, from Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
- Genesis 50:23 בְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֤י בֶּן n c mp cs n c mp cs n c ms cs Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph's knees.
- Genesis 50:25 בְּנֵ֥י n c mp cs Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
- Genesis 50:26 בֶּן n c ms cs So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
“son” is the headline sense of the Hebrew noun בן (bên). Where the King James Version says “son,” newer translations reach for “sons of” (unfoldingWord Literal Text); the renderings breakdown has the detail. The Hebrew Bible uses it across 3,652 verses — among the most common. First canonically at Genesis 3:16, it enters the text early. Not a single-sense word: its full sense range also takes in “grandson” and “child”. The sections below give every sense, occurrence, and version rendering.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H1121 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 3,652
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 3,652 distinct verses.
- 37 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 37 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #9
- by frequency
- Top 10 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 9 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 3,652 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- Numbers 436 verses 12%
- 1 Chronicles 430 verses 12%
- Genesis 306 verses 8%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 3,652 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 1,391 verses · 38%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 1,187 verses · 33%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 1,074 verses · 29%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 3 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Son 1,757×, Children 1,289×, Sons 826×
- American Standard Version†: Son 1,622×, Children 1,204×, Sons 801×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Son 1,807×, Sons 836×, Israelites 398×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Sons of 1,811×, Son of 1,212×, Son 718×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H1121 across 4,891† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 334 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 15 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H1121 across 4,872† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 421 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H1121 across 4,587† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 197 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 208 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H1121 across 4,875† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 83 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
22 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 22 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
בן I son (MI Ph. בן
- 1. son, male child, born of a woman Gn 4:25; 16:11, 15; 17:19 cf. v 16 18:10, 14; 19:37, 38 + often, cf. בֶּן־בִּטְנָהּ Is 49:15; begotten by a man Gn 5:4 f. 28; 6:10; 11:11 f. + often; ‖ בַּת (בָּנוֹת) daughter Gn 5:4, 7, 10 f. Ex 20:10 Dt 5:14; 16:11, 14 1 S 30:3, 6 Jb 1:2 42:13 +; of son as desired Gn 30:2 (cf. 15:2; 16:2; 17:17; 18:10 f. 1 S 1:5–11) 2 K 4:14, 28 ψ 127:3 +; rejoiced in Gn 30:6 +; beloved Ex 21:5 2 S 19:1, 3, 5 1 K 3:26; cared for Dt 1:31; spared Mal 3:17; disciplined & trained Dt 8:5 Pr 3:12; 13:24; 19:18; 29:17; owing reverence, obedience, etc. to parents Pr 6:20; 10:1; 13:1; בִּנְךָ בְּכוֹרְךָ thy first-born son Gn 27:32; הַבֵּן הַבְּכֹר Dt 21:15 cf. 1 S 8:2; בְּנָהּ הַגָּדֹל her elder son Gn 27:15, 42; בְּנוֹ הַגָּדֹל 27:1; בְּנָהּ הַקָּטָן her younger son Gn 27:15, 42. In partic. e.g. Genesis 4:25
- a. בֶּן־אִמּוֹ son of his mother, i.e. own (uterine) brother Gn 43:29, cf. 27:29 Ju 8:19 ψ 50:20; 69:9, & v. אֵם; בְּנֵי אָבִיךָ son of thy father = brethren Gn 49:8 (poet.) e.g. Genesis 43:29
- b. בְּנֵי דֹדֵיהֶן = cousins Nu 36:11. e.g. Numbers 36:11
- c. בְּנִי my son, as term of kindliness of endearment, used by Eli to Samuel 1 S 3:6, 16 cf. 4:16; 24:17; 26:17, 21, 25, v. also Pr 1:8, 10 2:1 +; cf. בִּנְךָ, used by Benhaded of himself to Elisha 2 K 8:9; by Ahaz to Tiglath-pileser 16:7; especially to express intimate and gracious relation with God: י׳ calls Israel בְּנִי בְכֹרִי Ex 4:22 cf. v 23 Ho 11:1, v. also ψ 80:16 (but cf. Che); בָּנִים אַתֶּם ליהוה אלהיכם Dt 14:1; בְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן ψ 82:6 (‖ אלהים); בְּנֵי אֵל־חָ֑י Ho 2:1; cf. further Dt 32:5 (pl.) v 20 (pl.) Is 1:2, 4; 30:1, 9; Je 3:14, 22; 4:22; 31:20; of future Davidic king 2 S 7:14 = 1 Ch 17:13 cf. ψ 2:7; expressly referred to Solomon 1 Ch 22:10; 28:6; also of children (offered in fire) Ez 16:21. e.g. 1 Samuel 3:6
- d. בְּנֵי האלהים applied to supernatural beings Gn 6:2, 4; Jb 1:6; 2:1; בְּנֵי אלהים Jb 38:7; בְּנֵי אֵלִים ψ 29:1 (on which cf. Che’s note) 89:7. e.g. Genesis 6:2
- e. בֶּן־אָדָם son of man, cf. בְּנֵי א׳, v. אָדָם; †בְּנֵי אִישׁ ψ 4:3 & (‖ בני אדם) 49:3; 62:10; La 3:33. e.g. Psalms 4:3
- f. בֶּן־בִּנְךָ = thy grandson Ex 10:2; Dt 6:2; Ju 8:22 cf. Je 27:7; also pl. Ex 34:7; Dt 4:9, 25; Ju 12:14; 2 K 17:41; 1 Ch 8:40; Jb 42:16; ψ 128:6; Pr 13:22; 17:6; Ez 37:25; also בֵּן alone with similar reference Gn 29:5 (Laban son of Nahor); Laban calls his daughters’ children his own sons Gn 31:28, 43 cf. 32:1; son of Naomi Ru 4:17; בְּנֵי רְבִעִים 2 K 10:30 sons of the fourth generation, and, in general, descendants Jos 22:24, 25, 27 +; cf. 2 S 19:25 2 K 9:20; Ez 5:1. e.g. Exodus 10:2
- g. constantly, as more precise designation, added to personal name כָּלֵב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה Nu 14:30; 32:12; 34:19 +; יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן Nu 11:28; 14:30; 32:12, 28; 34:17 +; יָרָבְעָם בֶּן־נְבָט 1 K 12:2, 15 +, etc.; also without personal name (often with implication of contempt) בֶּן־קִישׁ 1 S 10:11; בֶּן־יִשַׁי 1 S 20:27, 30, 31; 22:7, 8, 9, 13; 25:10 2 S 20:1; בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה 2 S 16:10; בֶּן־רְמַלְיָהוּ Is 7:4, 5, 9; 8:16; בֶּן־טָֽבְאַ֑ל Is 7:6; cf. also בְּנֵי לֵוִי Nu 16:7, 8. e.g. Numbers 14:30
- h. designated as בֶּן־זְקֻנִים i.e. born in old age of father Gn 37:3; opp. בְּנֵי הַנְּעוּרִים sons of one’s youth ψ 127:4; also בֶּן־בֵּיתִי one born in my house Gn 15:3 (i.e. slave) so בְּנֵי בַיִת Ec 2:7. e.g. Genesis 37:3
- i. in various combinations: (α) as expression of contumely, בֶּן־נַעֲוַת הַמַּרְדּוּת 1 S 20:30; בֶּן־הַמְּרַצֵּחַ הַוֶּה 2 K 6:32 this son of a murderer; cf. בְּנֵי־נָבָל Jb 30:8; בְּנֵי בְלִי־שֵׁם ib.; בְּנֵי עֹנֲנָה Is 57:3 (‖ זֶרַע מְנָאֵף); cf. בֶּן־אִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת Ju 11:2 (cf. v 1); (β) as term of respect, dignity, בֶּן־חוֹרִים son of nobles Ec 10:17 (in Aramaic = free born); בֶּן־חֲכָמִים Is 19:11; בֶּן־מַלְכֵי־קֶדֶם ib.; cf. בֶּן־מֶלֶךְ ψ 72:1 (‖ מֶלֶךְ); בֶּן־אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ ψ 86:16 in addressing י׳ (‖ עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ) & בְּנֵי־עֲבָדֶיךָ ψ 102:29; of noble appearance בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ Ju 8:18. e.g. 1 Samuel 20:30
- j. often pl. with name of ancestor, people, land, or city, to denote descendants, inhabitants, membership in a nation or family, etc.: (α) e.g. בְּנֵי־עֵבֶר Gn 10:21; בְּנֵי־חֵת Gn 23:3, 5, 7, 10(×2), 11, 16, 18, 20; 25:10; 49:32 (all P); (בְּנֵי־שֵׁת) Nu 24:17 v. sub 8); בְּנֵי־חֲמוֹר Gn 33:19 Jos 24:32; בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו Gn 36:5, 15, 19 Dt 2:4, 8, 12, 22, 29; בְּנֵי שֵׂעִיר Gn 36:20, 21; בֶּן־(בני)הִנֹּם Jos 15:8 + (cf. sub גַּיְא); בְּנֵי לוֹט Dt 2:9, 19 ψ 83:9; בְּנֵי־יוֹסֵף (lit. Gn 46:27; 48:8; 1 Ch 5:1) Nu 1:32; 26:28, 37; 34:23; 36:5 (מַטֵּה ב׳ י׳) + 6 times Jos, cf. ψ 77:16; even בְּנֵי חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה 1 Ch 5:23; בְּנֵי דָוִיד (lit. 2 S 8:18 = 1 Ch 18:17, 1 Ch 3:1, 9) 2 Ch 13:8; 23:3; 32:33; בְּנֵי אָסָף 2 Ch 29:13; Ezr 2:41; 3:8 + (v. אָסָף); בְּנֵי קֹרַח in titles of ψ 42–49, 84, 85, 87, 88; especially (β) בְּנֵי־עַמּוֹן (standing designation of people of Ammon) Gn 19:38 + 81 times (cf. עַמּוֹן & NöZMG 1886, 171 DrSm 66); בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב (lit. Gn 34:7, 13, 25, 27; 35:5, 22, 26; 49:2) 2 K 17:34 ψ 105:6 Mal 3:6 cf. ψ 77:16; & chiefly (γ) בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (lit. Gn 42:5; 45:21; 46:5; Ex 1:1) Ex 1:7 + 613 times, incl. Hex 427 (of which 328 P, 49 E, 25 J, 25 D), Ju 6:1, SK Ch 73 (23 in ref. to ancient history, 10 in opp. to Judah); so also Vrss & var. sometimes for בֵּית יִשׂ׳, e.g. Jos 21:43 + v. Di, Ez 3:1 + v. Co; also the reverse Ez 2:3 al.; note especially עַם בּ׳ יִשְׂרָאֵל Ex 1:9; עַמִּי בּ׳ יִשְׂרָאֵל Ex 3:10; 7:4; עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Ex 16:1, 2, 9, 10; 17:1 Lv 16:5; 19:2; Nu 1:2, 53; 8:9, 20; 13:26; 15:25, 26 17:6; 19:9; 25:6; 26:2; 31:12 (all P); דֹּרוֹת ב׳ יִשׂ׳ Ju 3:2; כָּל־ב׳ יִשׂ׳ וְכָל־הָעָם 20:26; ב׳ יִשׂ׳ וּבְנֵי הַלֵּוִי Ne 10:40; also (δ) בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה (lit. Gn 46:12; 26:19 1 Ch 2:3, 10; 4:1) Nu 1:26 + 18 times Nu Jos, Ju 1:8, 9, 16 (so read also v 21(×2) cf. Jos 15:53 & v. sub בנימן) 2 S 1:18 1 Ch 4:27 + 8 times Chr, Je 7:30 + 4 times Je; Ho 2:2 Jo 4:6, 8, 19 Ob 12 (not in K, of Judah or of any other tribe, except בְּנֵי לֵוִי 1 K 12:31) incl. מַטֵּה בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה Jos 15:1, 20, 21; 21:1 1 Ch 6:50; for usage with other tribes of Isr., v. the articles;—but note (ε) †בְּנֵי לֵוִי (lit. Gn 46:11 Ex 6:16 Nu 3:17 1 Ch 5:27; 6:1 cf. 23:6) Ex 32:28 Nu 3:15; 16:7, 8; 18:21 Jos 21:10 (as including sons of Aaron etc.); כָּל־בְּנֵי לֵוִי Ex 32:26; כָּל־אַחֶיךָ ב׳ ל׳ Nu 16:10; הַכֹּהֲנִים ב׳ ל׳ Dt 21:5; 31:9 cf. 1 K 12:31 & Mal 3:3; 1 Ch 23:24, 27; 24:20 Ezr 8:15 (distinguished from priests) Ne 12:23 Ez 40:46 (including בְּנֵי צָדוֹק the priests); also מַחֲנוֹת ב׳ ל׳ 1 Ch 9:18; בְּנֵי הַלֵּוִי 1 Ch 12:27 Ne 10:40; בְּנֵי הַלְּוִיִּם 1 Ch 15:15; 24:30 (cf. also לֵוִי); (ζ) בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן (lit. Ex 28:1, 40 1 Ch 5:29; 24:1; often Aaron and his sons lit. Ex 27:21; 28:1, 4 +) Lv 3:5, 8, 13; 6:7, 11; 7:10, 33 Jos 21:10 1 Ch 6:35, 39, 42; 15:4 (+ Levites) 24:1, 31 Ne 12:47; also בְּנֵי א׳ הַכֹּהֲנִים Lv 1:5, 8, 11; 2:2; 3:2 Nu 3:3; 10:8 & Jos 21:19 2 Ch 31:19 cf. 26:18; 29:21; 35:14(×2); בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן Lv 1:7 Jos 21:4 (as subdivision of Levites) v 13 cf. Lv 7:34; אֶת־כֹּהֲנֵי יהוה אֶת־בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן וְהַלְּוִיִּם 2 Ch 13:9 cf. v 10; once in sing. הַכֹּהֵן בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן Ne 10:39; v. also sub אַהֲרֹן; (η) †בְּנֵי צָדוֹק Ez 40:26, 44:15 הכהנים הלוים בני צדוק; 48:11 הכהנים הַמְֿקֻדָּשׁ מבני צדוק (𝔊 Sm Co join מ of מבני to preceding word, making pl.); (θ) בְּנֵי with names of peoples, lands, and cities, בְּנֵי כֻשִׁיִּים Am 9:7; בְּנֵי מִצְרַיִם Ez 16:26; בְּנֵי אַשּׁוּר Ez 16:28; 23:7, 9, 12, 23; ב׳ אֶרֶץ הַבְּרִית Ez 30:5 (Co del. ארץ); ב׳ בָּבֶל Ez 23:15, 17, 23; ב׳ יְרוּשָׁלִַם Jo 4:6; ב׳ צִיּוֹן Jo 2:23 La 4:2 ψ 149:2 (cf. Zc 9:13). Vid. further (ι) בְּנֵי עַמֶּ֑ךָ Lv 19:18 cf. 20:17 Nu 22:5 Ju 14:16, 17 Ez 3:11; 33:2, 12, 17, 30; 37:18 Dn 12:1; בְּנֵי פָּרִיצֵי עַמֶּךָ Dn 11:14; (κ) קֶבֶר בְּנֵי הָעָם 2 K 23:6 2 Ch 35:5, 7, 12; קִבְרֵי בְנֵי הָעָם Je 26:23; (λ) בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם Gn 29:1 Ju 7:12; 8:10 1 K 5:10 Jb 1:3 Is 11:14 Je 49:28 Ez 25:4, 10; †(μ) בְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה Ezr 2:1 = Ne 7:6; (ν) of bulls, בְּנֵי בָשָׁן Dt 32:14 (song) cf. KloSK 1872, 254 Di. e.g. Genesis 10:21
- 2. children (male and female) Gn 3:16; 21:7 Ex 21:5; 22:23; hence בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה הַזְּכָרִים Jos 17:2 male children, בֵּן זָכָר Je 20:15. e.g. Genesis 3:16
- 3. youth, young men (pl.) Pr 7:7 Ct 2:3. e.g. Proverbs 7:7
- 4. the young of animals Lv 22:28 (שׁוֹר אוֹ שֶׂה) cf. Dt 22:6, 7 1 S 6:7, 10 Zc 9:9 Jb 4:11; 28:8; 39:4, 16;—בֶּן־בָּקָר etc. v. sub 7 b infr. e.g. Leviticus 22:28
- 5. of plant-shoots בֵּן פֹּרָת Gn 49:22(×2); also בֵּן ψ 80:16? (‖ כַּנָּה; see Che trans. & crit. n.) e.g. Genesis 49:22
- 6. fig. of lifeless things, בְּנֵי רֶשֶׁף sparks Jb 5:7; stars עַיִשׁ עַל־בָּנֶיהָ Jb 38:32; arrows בֶּן־קָ֑שֶׁת Jb 41:2; בְּנֵי אַשְׁפָּתוֹ) La 3:13; cf. בֶּן־גָּרְנִי i.e. corn of my threshing-floor Is 21:10. e.g. Job 5:7
- 7.
- a. member of a guild, order or class, †בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים i.e. those belonging to the prophetic order 1 K 20:35 2 K 2:3, 5, 7, 15; 4:1, 38(×2); 5:22; 6:1; 9:1 (Hoffm RSProph. 85. 388, K 15 f.; ZehnpfundBAS i.355 comp. Assyrian mâr šipri, son of a messenger = messenger, and explains from the son’s succeeding to father’s calling) & בֶּן־נָבִיא Am 7:14; prob. also †בְּנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים 1 Ch 9:30 Ezr 2:61; 10:18; †בְּנֵי הַשֹּׁעֲרִים Ezr 2:42; cf. בְּנֵי הַגְּדוּד 2 Ch 25:13 men of the troop, v. Palm. בני שירתא men of the caravan VogNo. 4 al.; also בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה = exiles †Ezr 4:1; 6:19, 20; 8:35; 10:7, 16; בֶּן־הָרַקָּחִים Ne 3:8; further, in בֶּן־נֵכָר = foreigner (only P, poet., & late) †Gn 17:12, 27 Ex 12:43 Lv 22:25 Ez 44:9(×2); ב׳־הַנּ׳ †Is 56:3; בְּנֵיִ־נֵכָר †2 S 22:45, 46 = ψ 18:45, 46 Ne 9:2 Is 60:10; 61:5; 62:8 Ez 44:7 ψ 144:7, 11, בְּנֵי־הַנּ׳ Is 56:6; also בְּנֵי הַתּוֹשָׁבִים הַגָּרִים עִמָּכֶם Lv 25:45. e.g. 1 Kings 20:35
- b. of animals, בֶּן־בָקָר son of (the) herd, i.e. young one of the herd, בָּקָר וּבְנֵי בָקָר 1 S 14:32 cf. עֵגֶל בֶּן־בָּקָר Lv 9:2 (P); then, in general, one of the herd: fit for food Gn 18:7, 8 (J), for sacrifice Nu 15:8 (P); בן הַבּ׳ Lv 12:6 Nu 15:9 (P); especially פַּר בֶּן־בָּקָר Ex 29:1 Lv 4:3, 14; 16:3; 23:18 Nu 7:15 + 16 times Nu (all P) + 2 Ch 13:9 Ez 43:19, 23, 25; 45:18; 46:6; פָּרִים בְּנֵי בָּקָר Nu 28:11, 19, 27; 29:13, 17 (P); also בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ Gn 49:11 (poem, J; ‖עִירֹה); בְּנֵי־צֹאן ψ 114:4, 6; בֶּן־רְאֵמִים ψ 29:6; בְּנֵי הָרַמָּכִים Est 8:10; (הַ)יּוֹנָה בְּנֵי Lv 1:14 + 7 times Lv + Nu 6:10 cf. בֶּן־יוֹנָה Lv 12:6 (all P); בְּנֵי־נָ֑שֶׁר Pr 30:17; בְּנֵי עֹרֵב ψ 147:9. e.g. 1 Samuel 14:32
- 8. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc. especially †(α) בֶּן־(בני)חַיִל = mighty man 1 S 14:52; 18:17 2 S 2:7; 13:28; 17:10(×2) 1 K 1:52 + 7 times Ch; אֲנָשִׁים בני ח׳ Ju 18:2 2 K 2:16; אֶלָף אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי הֶחָ֑יִל Ju 21:10; †(β) בְּנֵי עַוְלָה wicked men 2 S 3:34; 7:10 1 Ch 17:9 Ho 10:9; בֶּן־ע׳ ψ 89:23 (for בני בליעל v. בליעל); †(γ) בְּנֵי מֶ֑רִי rebels Nu 17:25 (cf. בַּיִת); †(δ) בְּנֵי הַתַּעֲרֻבוֹת sons of pledges = hostages 2 K 14:14 = 2 Ch 25:24; †(ε) בְּנֵי מָוֶת i.e. those deserving of death 1 S 26:16; so בֶּן־מות 2 S 12:5; בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה appointed or exposed to death ψ 79:11; 102:21; cf. †(ζ) בִּן הַכּוֹת one worthy of smiting Dt 25:2; †(η) בְּנֵי עֹ֑נִי Pr 31:5; †(θ) בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף Pr 31:8; †(ι) בְּנֵי שָׁאוֹן Je 48:45 = tumultuous ones; so also (= שֵׁאת) בְּנֵי שֵׁת Nu 24:17 cf. RV Di al.; †(κ) בְּנֵי הַיִּצְהָר Zc 4:14 i.e. anointed ones; †(λ) בֶּן־מֶשֶׁק Gn 15:2 son of possession, i.e. heir; †(μ) הֵילֵל בֶּן־שָׁ֑חַר Is 14:12 son of dawn; †(ν) of animals בְּנֵי שָׁ֑חַץ i.e. proud beasts Jb 28:8; 41:26; (ξ) of Jonah’s gourd בִּן־לַיְלָה Jon 4:10(×2); †(ο) of a fertile hill קֶרֶן בֶּן־שֶׁמֶן Is 5:1. e.g. 1 Samuel 14:52
- 9. n. relat. of age:
- a. of men, וַיְהִי נֹחַ בֶּן־חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה Gn 5:32 cf. 7:6 + 71 times P; Gn 50:26 Jos 14:7, 10; 24:29 (all E); Nu 32:11 (J), Dt 31:2; also Ju 2:8 1 S 4:15 2 S 4:4; 19:33, 36 1 Ch 2:21 23:3, 24, 27; 27:3 2 Ch 24:15; 25:5; 31:16, 17 Ezr 3:8 Is 65:20(×2) Je 52:1; + 41 times SK Ch of kings at accession; note especially (incl. in above) the phrase מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָ֑עְלָה Ex 30:14; 38:26 Nu 1:3 + 21 times Nu 1–3 + 26:2, 4; 32:11 1 Ch 23:24, 27 2 Ch 25:5 Ezr 3:8; cf. Lv 27:7 Nu 8:24; 26:62 1 Ch 23:3 & without מעלה Nu 8:25; 18:16; also מִבֶּן עשׂרים שׁנה וְעַד בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה Lv 27:3 cf. v 5, 6; מִבֶּן שׁלשׁים שׁנה ומעלה ועד בן־חמשׁים שׁנה Nu 4:3(×2) + 12 times Nu 4; מבן שׁלושׁ שׁנים וּלְמַ֫עְלָה 2 Ch 31:16 cf. v 17; & לְמִבֶּן עשׂרים שׁנה וּלְמָ֑טָה 1 Ch 27:23. e.g. Genesis 5:32
- b. of animals, (Hex all P, incl. H) בֶּן־שָׁנָה Ex 12:5; 29:38 Lv 9:3; 23:18, 19 Nu 7:17 + 28 times Nu 7, 28, 29; also Mi 6:6; בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ Lv 12:6; 23:12 Nu 6:12, 14 + 12 times Nu 7; also Ez 46:13. Note.—בן appears perhaps abbrev. as בּ in a few cpd. n.pr.; v. בִּדְקַר (= בֶּן־דקר?), בִּלְשָׁן, בִּמְהָל, בַּעֲלִיס, בַּעֲנָה, בִּרְשַׁע, בִּשְׁלָם (so MV after Schol. Hamâsa3 ed. Freytag; Röde libr. hist. interpr. Arabic 20, 21; but this is very uncertain, cf. Ol§227 b, p. 613).—On Lag’s explan. of אבי in some n.pr. as for אבן = בן cf. LagBN 75 & v. אבינר p. 4, etc., but this is dub. e.g. Exodus 12:5
בן II m. a Levite 1 Ch 15
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. n.m. son (MI Ph. בן; so Sab. CISiv. No. 2, cf. בני DHMSem. Sprachforsch. 6; Arabic اِبْنٌ; Assyrian bin(u), LyonSargon 9, 1. 57; especially in bin-bin, grandson COTGloss., cf. Dl infr.; Aramaic בַּר, ܒܰܪ, pl. בְּנִין, ܒܢܺܝܢ; cf. Palm., especially VogNo. 21. 31. 36 a al.; possibly orig. connected with בנה build, so Thes, cf. Assyrian bânu, begetter (DlPr 104 & cf. BaZMG 1887, 638 ff.); but all traces of this √ lost in Heb. form; √ perhaps orig. bilit. (בִּן, בֵּן) בַּן v. Sta§ 183)—abs. בּ׳ Gn 4:25 +; בֵּֽן־ Ez 18:10; cstr. בֵּן Gn 49:22(×2); בֶּן־ Gn 5:32 +; בֶּן Est 2:5; Ne 6:18, & c. prefix Gn 17:17; Nu 8:25; 1 Ch 27:23; 2 Ch 25:5; 31:16, 17; בְּנוֹ Nu 23:18; 24:3, 15; בְּנִי Gn 49:11; בִּן Dt 25:2; בִּן־ Ex 33:11 + 32 times (29 times in combination בִּן־נוּן (ישׁוע, הושׁע) יהושׁע); sf. בְּנִי Gn 21:10 +; בִּנְךָ Ex 20:10 +; לִבֱנ֑ךָ Dt 7:3; 1 K 11:13; בְּנֵךְ Gn 30:14 +; בְּנוֹ Gn 4:17 +; בְּנָהּ Gn 21:10 +; pl. בָּנִים Gn 3:16 +; cstr. בְּנֵי Gn 6:2 +; sf. בָּנַי Gn 31:43 +; בָּנֵינוּ Jos 22:25 +; בְּנֵיכֶם Ex 3:22 +, etc.;—
II. n.pr.m. a Levite 1 Ch 15:18, but del. 𝔊 Be Öt cf. v 20.
I. 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from בנה (bânâh) (H1129) — to build.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
בֵּן
- , constr. בֶּן (b. h.; בנה) offspring, son, child. שבוע הב׳ the male child’s week, a disguise for circumcision day, adopted during the Hadrianic persecutions. Snh. 32ᵇ; Y. Keth. I, 25ᶜ; a. e.—ישוע הב׳ a disguise for פִּדְיוֹן הבן. B. Kam. 80ᵃ.—… בְּנוֹ של the son of, v. שֶׁל. בְּנָן של קדושים descendant of holy men. Ab. Zar. 50ᵃ; a. e.—Pl. בָּנִים, constr. בְּנֵי. Ab. III, 14 ב׳ למקום chosen children of God. Gen. R. s. 82 בָּנֶיהָ של תורה children (followers) of the Law.—Trnsf. belonging to, fit for &c.; e.g. בני גולה those belonging to the colony of exiles, Babylonians &c.; בני גליל Galileans; בני אכילה things fit to be eaten &c. [For such compounds as are not self-evident, see the respective determinants.] [בני פיקרין, v. בְּנִיפיקָרִין.]
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 525 distinct written forms H1121 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 465 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H1121, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
- אבן ʼeben H68 stone
- בית bayith H1004 house
- בנא bᵉnâʼ H1124 to build
- בניה binyâh H1140 building
- בנין binyân H1146 building
- בת bath H1323 daughter
- מבנה mibneh H4011 building
- תבן teben H8401 stubble
- תבנית tabnîyth H8403 pattern
Derived from this word
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- בנוי Binnûwy H1131 Binnui
- בני Bânîy H1137 Bani
- בני Bunnîy H1138 Bunni
- בניה Bᵉnâyâh H1141 Benaiah
- יבנאל Yabnᵉʼêl H2995 Jabneel
- יבנה Yabneh H2996 Jabneh
- יבניה Yibnᵉyâh H2997 Ibneiah
- יבניה Yibnîyâh H2998 Ibnijah
- מבני Mᵉbunnay H4012 Mebunnai
- בן Bên H1122 Ben
- בןאבינדב Ben-ʼĂbîynâdâb H1125 Ben-Abinadab
- בןאוני Ben-ʼÔwnîy H1126 Ben-oni
- בןגבר Ben-Geber H1127 Ben-geber
- בןדקר Ben-Deqer H1128 Ben-dekar
- בןהדד Ben-Hădad H1130 Ben-hadad
- בןזוחת Ben-Zôwchêth H1132 Ben-zoheth
- בןחור Ben-Chûwr H1133 Ben-hur
- בןחיל Ben-Chayil H1134 Ben-hail
- בןחנן Ben-Chânân H1135 Ben-hanan
- בןחסד Ben-Cheçed H1136 Ben-hesed
- בניברק Bᵉnêy-Bᵉraq H1139 Bene-barak
- בני יעקן Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân H1142 Bene-jaakan
- בנימין Binyâmîyn H1144 Benjamin
- בנינו Bᵉnîynûw H1148 Beninu
- בןעמי Ben-ʻAmmîy H1151 Ben-ami
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 38 — not the complete family. 25 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
Most of the 3,652 Hebrew verses this word occurs in also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), so the same passages can be read in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 3:16
- Exodus 1:1
- Leviticus 1:2
- Numbers 1:2
- Deuteronomy 1:3
- Joshua 1:1
- Judges 1:1
- Ruth 1:1
- 1 Samuel 1:1
- 2 Samuel 1:4
- 1 Kings 1:5
- 2 Kings 1:17
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
