What does אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebĕywōn) mean in the Bible?
אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebĕywōn): One reduced to absolute destitution and dependence; carries covenantal obligation for Israel to protect the vulnerable
Hebrew · H34
אֶבְיוֹן
Destitute
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אֶבְיוֹןH34
Pronunciationʾebĕywōn
What does אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebĕywōn) mean in the Bible?
אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebĕywōn): One reduced to absolute destitution and dependence; carries covenantal obligation for Israel to protect the vulnerable
Full entry for אֶבְיוֹן (H34) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H34?
The BSB source-word alignment has 61 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and needy (19), the needy (10), of the needy (6), and the needy (4), to the needy (3).
Where does אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebĕywōn) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 23:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (23), Deuteronomy (7), Job (6), Amos (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand needy19×Deuteronomy 15:11, Deuteronomy 24:14, Job 24:14, Psalms 35:10
the needy10×1 Samuel 2:8, Job 5:15, Job 24:4, Psalms 9:18
of the needy6×Psalms 12:5, Psalms 72:4, Psalms 140:12, Isaiah 32:7
and the needy4×Proverbs 30:14, Isaiah 14:30, Amos 2:6, Amos 8:6
to the needy3×Job 29:16, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 31:20
to the poor3×Exodus 23:6, Esther 9:22, Psalms 112:9
for the needy2×Job 30:25, Isaiah 25:4
poor2×Deuteronomy 15:4, Jeremiah 2:34
{you deprive} the poor1×Amos 5:12
a poor man1×Deuteronomy 15:7
and poor1×Psalms 49:2
and the poor1×Isaiah 29:19
from your poor1×Deuteronomy 15:7
her poor1×Psalms 132:15
of the needy one1×Psalms 109:31
of the oppressed1×Psalms 72:13
or a needy man1×Job 31:19
so that the poor1×Exodus 23:11
to be poor1×Deuteronomy 15:11
your poor1×Deuteronomy 15:9
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 23:6אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖toto the poorAdjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularExodus 23:11אֶבְיֹנֵ֣יtoso that the poorNoun - masculine plural constructDeuteronomy 15:4אֶבְי֑וֹןtopoorAdjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:7אֶבְי֜וֹןtoa poor manAdjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:7הָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃tofrom your poorArticle | Adjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:9הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹןtoyour poorArticle | Adjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:11אֶבְי֖וֹןtoto be poorAdjective - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:11וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖toand needyConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 24:14וְאֶבְי֑וֹןtoand needyConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular1 Samuel 2:8אֶבְי֔וֹןtothe needyAdjective - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 23:6
Aligned rows61
Books represented11
Exodus2Deuteronomy71 Samuel1Esther1Job6Psalms23Proverbs4Isaiah5Jeremiah4Ezekiel3Amos5
Source forms
אֶבְי֑וֹן5x’eḇ·yō·wnDeuteronomy 15:4, Psalms 9:18, Psalms 72:4, Psalms 109:31
וְאֶבְי֑וֹן5xwə·’eḇ·yō·wnDeuteronomy 24:14, Job 24:14, Psalms 37:14, Psalms 72:13
וְאֶבְי֖וֹן4xwə·’eḇ·yō·wnJeremiah 22:16, Ezekiel 16:49, Amos 2:6, Amos 8:6
אֶבְי֖וֹן3x’eḇ·yō·wnDeuteronomy 15:11, Isaiah 32:7, Jeremiah 20:13
אֶבְיֽוֹן׃3x’eḇ·yō·wnJob 5:15, Psalms 113:7, Proverbs 14:31
אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים3x’eḇ·yō·w·nîmJob 24:4, Psalms 69:33, Psalms 72:13
אֶבְי֣וֹן2x’eḇ·yō·wnPsalms 72:12, Psalms 107:41
אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים2x’eḇ·yō·w·nîmJeremiah 2:34, Jeremiah 5:28
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular19xDeuteronomy 24:14, Job 24:14, Psalms 35:10, Psalms 37:14
Adjective - masculine singular15xDeuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7, Deuteronomy 15:11, 1 Samuel 2:8
Noun - masculine plural8xJob 24:4, Psalms 12:5, Psalms 69:33, Psalms 72:13
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular4xJob 30:25, Job 31:19, Proverbs 31:20, Isaiah 25:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural3xProverbs 30:14, Isaiah 14:30, Amos 5:12
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural3xEsther 9:22, Job 29:16, Psalms 112:9
Article | Adjective - masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 15:7, Deuteronomy 15:9
Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xExodus 23:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. One reduced to absolute destitution and dependence; carries covenantal obligation for Israel to protect the vulnerable
Source Gloss
destitute
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
One reduced to absolute destitution and dependence; carries covenantal obligation for Israel to protect the vulnerable
destitute BDB: in want Usage: beggar, needy, poor (man).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Those lacking resources, contrasted with the rich in social hierarchy
Destitute persons who receive charitable assistance and care from the virtuous
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 61 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אֶבְיוֹן is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.