Original Word: אֶצְבּוֹ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Etsbown
Pronunciation: ets-bone'
Phonetic Spelling: (ets-bone')
KJV: Ezbon
NASB: Ezbon
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Etsbon, the name of two Israelites

Ezbon

Or metsbon {ets-bone'}; of uncertain derivation; Etsbon, the name of two Israelites -- Ezbon.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
two Isr.
NASB Translation
Ezbon (2).

אֶצְבּוֺן proper name, masculine 1. אֶצְבֹּן a son of Gad (Samaritan אצבעון, ᵐ5 Θασοβαν) Genesis 46:16 = אָזְנִי Numbers 26:16 (ᵐ5 Ἀζενει, Ἀζαν), this shorter form less probable.

2 אֶצְבּוֺן a grandson of Benjamin 1 Chronicles 7:7 (ᵐ5 Ἀσεβων, Ἐσσεβων).

אֶצְבַּע see II. צבע.

[אצל] probably i. q. to join (compare on the א W^{SG 71}).

Occurrences and Context

Genesis 46:16 lists Ezbon among the seven sons of Gad who entered Egypt with Jacob, establishing the Gadite line in the land of Goshen. 1 Chronicles 7:7 later names another Ezbon among the five sons of Bela, son of Benjamin, all described as “mighty men of valor” whose census numbered 22,034. The two references identify two distinct men who share the same name but belong to different tribes and eras.

Genealogical Significance

1. Preservation of Tribal Identity
• In Genesis, Ezbon’s inclusion demonstrates how every branch of Jacob’s family was preserved during the sojourn in Egypt, fulfilling the promise that Israel would become “a great nation” (Genesis 46:3).
• Chronicles, compiled after the exile, traces Benjamin’s lineage through Bela to reaffirm tribal continuity in post-exilic Judah.

2. Testament to Divine Faithfulness
• Both genealogies show that the LORD safeguards individual families within His covenant people, underscoring the precision of His promises (compare Exodus 1:7; Nehemiah 9:7-8).

Different Tribal Associations

Ezbon of Gad represents a pastoral, trans-Jordan heritage. Gad settled east of the Jordan (Numbers 32), became known for military prowess (Deuteronomy 33:20-21), and produced the valiant men who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:8-15).

Ezbon of Benjamin belongs to a tribe positioned strategically around Jerusalem, famous for skilled warriors (Judges 20:15-16). Chronicles highlights their valor to encourage the restored community to reclaim that heritage of courage and faithfulness.

Themes of Covenant Continuity

The repetition of the same name in two tribes accents the unity of the whole nation under Yahweh. Although divided by territory and later by monarchy, Israel’s tribes remain intertwined through shared ancestry and spiritual calling (Psalm 122:3-4; Ezekiel 37:15-22).

Ministry Takeaways

• God notices individuals: Even seemingly obscure names matter in His recorded history (Malachi 3:16).
• Faithfulness spans generations: The courage attributed to Bela’s descendants invites believers today to model generational faithfulness (2 Timothy 1:5).
• Cross-tribal naming reflects a broader identity in God’s family, anticipating the New Testament reality where every believer is “fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19).

Christological Foreshadowing

Genealogies lead to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). By meticulously recording names like Ezbon, Scripture affirms the historical veracity of the line through which the Messiah came and highlights the LORD’s sovereign orchestration of history for the redemption of His people.

Application for Today

Readers may draw confidence that their own lives—though perhaps as little-known as Ezbon’s—are woven into God’s larger redemptive narrative. This assurance motivates steadfast service, knowing that the same God who accounted for Ezbon’s place in Israel also “has prepared in advance good works” for every believer (Ephesians 2:10).

אֶצְבּ֡וֹן אצבון וְאֶצְבֹּ֑ן ואצבן ’eṣ·bō·wn ’eṣbōwn etzBon veetzBon wə’eṣbōn wə·’eṣ·bōnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts