בֶּן־גֶּבֶר

Ben-Geber, an Israelite

Definition

Ben-Geber is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'son of Geber' or 'son of the hero.' It refers to a specific Israelite official appointed by King Solomon to oversee a regional district. His sole biblical appearance is in 1 Kings 4:13, where he is listed as one of Solomon's twelve district governors responsible for providing provisions for the royal household. The name itself is a patronymic, identifying him primarily through his father, Geber. There are no other biblical senses or meanings for this specific name.

Biblical Usage

The name Ben-Geber is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 4:13. It appears in the administrative list of King Solomon's twelve district officers. The context is purely governmental, detailing the officials responsible for supplying the king's court. There are no patterns of usage, as it is a unique personal name tied to this specific historical record.

Etymology

The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: בֵּן (ben, H1121), meaning 'son,' and גֶּבֶר (geber, H1397), meaning 'man,' 'strong man,' or 'hero.' It is a straightforward patronymic construction, literally 'son of Geber.' The root גֶּבֶר (geber) often implies a man of strength or maturity, distinguishing it from more general terms for 'man' like אִישׁ (ish).

Semantic Range

The name reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of using patronymics (identifying a person as 'son of' their father). This was a primary means of identification. Ben-Geber's role as a district governor highlights the administrative structure of Solomon's united monarchy, which organized the kingdom into tax districts to support the centralized government and royal projects, a practice seen in other contemporary kingdoms.

Ben-Deker (H1127) — Another of Solomon's district governors, also using the patronymic 'son of' construction. Ben-Hesed (H1127) — Another of Solomon's district governors, sharing the same administrative context and naming pattern.

Word Details

Scripture References