Bible Word Study
אֶשְׁתּוֹן
ʼEshtôwn · Eshton, an Israelite
אֶשְׁתּוֹן
Eshton, an Israelite
Definition
Eshton is a proper name given to a minor figure in the genealogy of Judah, specifically listed as a descendant of Chelub (1 Chronicles 4:11). He is identified as the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, who founded the city of Nahash (1 Chronicles 4:12). The name appears only in this genealogical context, with no additional narrative or actions attributed to him. Its meaning, derived from a root suggesting 'restfulness,' may have been intended to convey a positive character trait or hope associated with his lineage.
Biblical Usage
The name Eshton is used exclusively within the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 4:11-12. It functions solely to establish a familial link within the tribe of Judah, connecting his father, Chelub, to his three sons. There are no narrative uses or patterns beyond this listing, which is typical for many names preserved in the Chronicler's detailed family histories.
Etymology
The name Eshton (אֶשְׁתּוֹן) is likely derived from the same root as the word Shuni (שׁוּנִי, H7764), which relates to 'rest' or 'quiet.' It is a proper noun formed from this root, probably meaning 'restful' or 'quiet one.' This follows a common Hebrew practice of creating personal names from words describing desirable attributes or states of being.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and conveyed meaning or parental hopes. A name like Eshton ('restful one') may reflect a desire for stability or peace for the child. His inclusion in the Judahite genealogy, even without a story, affirms the biblical value of preserving family lineage and identity within the covenant people, as seen throughout 1 Chronicles.
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]