Bible Word Study
אֲבָנָה
ʼĂbânâh · Abanah, a river near Damascus
אֲבָנָה
Abanah, a river near Damascus
Definition
Abanah (also spelled Abana) is the proper name of a river flowing near Damascus, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 5:12, the Syrian commander Naaman, when instructed by the prophet Elisha to wash in the Jordan River to be healed of leprosy, protests by asking, 'Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?' The name likely means 'stony' or 'perennial,' describing its character. It is traditionally identified with the modern Barada River, which supplies water to the Damascus oasis.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 5:12. It appears in the context of Naaman's objection to Elisha's healing instructions, where Naaman contrasts the rivers of his homeland (Abanah and Pharpar) with the Jordan River of Israel. The usage highlights a geographical and national pride, setting the stage for the lesson in prophetic authority and humility.
Etymology
The name אֲבָנָה (ʼĂbânâh) is likely derived from the Hebrew root אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68), meaning 'stone.' As a feminine form, it may signify 'stony river' or 'perennial stream,' describing its rocky bed or constant flow. It is compared to the word אֲמָנָה (ʼămānâh, H549), meaning 'faithfulness' or 'support,' possibly sharing a concept of firmness or stability.
Semantic Range
The mention of the Abanah River serves a theological purpose in the narrative of 2 Kings 5. It illustrates human pride and the temptation to value familiar, impressive resources (like Damascus's rivers) over God's simple, commanded means of grace (the Jordan). The story teaches that God's power and blessing are not dependent on impressive geography but on obedience to His word through His prophet, emphasizing humility and faith over national or natural prestige. In the ancient Near East, major rivers were often associated with the power and fertility of a region. For Naaman, a Syrian, the Abanah and Pharpar were symbols of Damascus's superiority and life-giving abundance, contrasting with the smaller, muddier Jordan. His objection reflects a common cultural perspective that valued prominent natural features, making his eventual submission to wash in the Jordan a significant act of humility across cultural boundaries. פַּרְפַּר (Parpar, H6574) — The other river of Damascus mentioned alongside Abanah in 2 Kings 5:12, likely the modern Awaj River. יַרְדֵּן (Yarden, H3383) — The Jordan River, the site of Naaman's healing, contrasted with the rivers of Damascus.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]