Word Study for H1127 (בֶּן־גֶּבֶר)

Ben-Geber /ben-gheh'-ber/ Ask about this word

Meaningson of (the) hero; Ben-Geber, an Israelite

KJV usagethe son of Geber.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Ben-Geber — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew name Ben-Geber, represented by H1127, literally means son of (the) hero. Its definition also clarifies it as "the son of Geber, an Israelite." This name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, marking a specific individual within the administrative structure of ancient Israel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single appearance of H1127 is in 1 Kings 4:13, where Ben-Geber is identified as an official serving in Ramothgilead. He was responsible for a significant territory, which included "the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead." His authority also extended to "the region of Argob, which is in Bashan," a domain described as containing "threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars." This places him as a key administrator over a large and fortified area east of the Jordan.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the role and region of Ben-Geber:

H1121 bên (son): This word forms the first part of his name. Its base definition is "a son (as a builder of the family name)." In the narrative, this connection to lineage is reinforced by the mention of the territory belonging to "Jair the son of Manasseh" 1 Kings 4:13.
H1568 Gilʻâd (Gilead): This is the primary region where Ben-Geber was stationed. It is defined as "Gilad, a region East of the Jordan" 1 Kings 4:13.
H5892 ʻîyr (city): This word underscores the scope of his authority. He governed "threescore great cities," defined as a "place guarded by waking or a watch," which highlights the strategic importance of his assigned territory 1 Kings 4:13.

Theological Significance

While not a major theological figure, the mention of H1127 carries historical and administrative significance.

Administrative Organization: Ben-Geber's role is a clear example of the organized administrative structure established during the kingdom of Israel. His specific assignment to a district demonstrates a centralized government with regional oversight.
Territorial Control: The description of his territory—"threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars"—emphasizes the strength and consolidation of Israel's control over the land east of the Jordan 1 Kings 4:13.
Continuity of Heritage: His governance over "the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh" links the administration of his time back to the historical tribal allotments, showing a continuity of identity for the regions of Israel 1 Kings 4:13.

Summary

In summary, H1127 Ben-Geber is a specific Israelite official whose name means "son of the hero." Though mentioned only once, his entry in the biblical record provides a valuable insight into the administrative divisions of the Israelite kingdom. His oversight of a large, well-fortified region in Gilead and Bashan illustrates the organizational depth and territorial reach of the nation at that time.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

גֶּבֶר
בֶּן

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 1 Kings — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.