בֶן־ (ḇen-) in Genesis 15:3: Noun - masculine singular construct
בֶן־ (ḇen-) in Genesis 15:3
Source Word
At Genesis 15:3, the source token בֶן־ is H1121, N-msc. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
A servant communicates the household-status sense, while the Hebrew expression retains the more literal son-of-house shape. Without offspring, Abram assumes that a trusted household member will inherit, sharpening the need for God's promise of a son from his own body.
How To Communicate It
Explain the Hebrew household idiom and distinguish relational son language from biological descent in this clause.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not force the base gloss son into biological parentage or demean the household member by treating servant as his entire identity.
- The precise social status of the household heir is not fully specified in this token.
- Read a servant within Genesis 15:3 as this H1121 occurrence; broader theology requires the passage.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-nominal
Noun
Noun - masculine singular construct
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Masculine
Singular
Construct
None
This nominal expression identifies a person in Abram's current household; the heir statement supplies his prospective role.
The noun is closely bound to the following house phrase, creating a relational household designation rather than an isolated kinship claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Abram's household as the relationship identifying the prospective heir
The clause naming who will inherit if Abram remains childless
The masculine singular noun begins the household expression literally shaped as son of my house and contextually rendered a servant in my household.
The noun does not identify this man as Abram's biological son or make every servant a family heir.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: Without offspring, Abram assumes that a trusted household member will inherit, sharpening the need for God's promise of a son from his own body.
The noun is closely bound to the following house phrase, creating a relational household designation rather than an isolated kinship claim.. The masculine singular noun begins the household expression literally shaped as son of my house and contextually rendered a servant in my household.. Attached to Abram's household as the relationship identifying the prospective heir. Governed by the clause naming who will inherit if Abram remains childless. The noun does not identify this man as Abram's biological son or make every servant a family heir.
Why can a noun meaning son be rendered a servant here? Joined to my house, it identifies a male member of Abram's household who could act as heir, not a biological child.
Direct: A servant communicates the household-status sense, while the Hebrew expression retains the more literal son-of-house shape.
The precise social status of the household heir is not fully specified in this token. The noun's broad relational range requires the following house phrase to prevent a biological-son reading.
Base gloss controls every context: Son can participate in relational idioms whose full phrase determines the English rendering. household status equals biological descent: God's next reply explicitly contrasts this prospective heir with one coming from Abram's own body.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
At Genesis 15:3, the source token בֶן־ is H1121, N-msc. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.
בֵּן is the lemma behind a servant here. Within Genesis 15:3, H1121 retains this exact lexical identity.
The noun is closely bound to the following house phrase, creating a relational household designation rather than an isolated kinship claim.
Without offspring, Abram assumes that a trusted household member will inherit, sharpening the need for God's promise of a son from his own body.
Covenant fulfillment will come by God's specified promise, not merely by the customary solution Abram can presently see.
Explain the Hebrew household idiom and distinguish relational son language from biological descent in this clause.
Do not force the base gloss son into biological parentage or demean the household member by treating servant as his entire identity.