Boy Old Testament Rare
Ebal
ancient heaps
עֵיבָל
Ebal (Hebrew: עֵיבָל) means “ancient heaps”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Aiah in 1 Chronicles 1.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Ebal
descendant of Seir; son of Shobal
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 36:23 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 1:40 |
| Cross-references | 4 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Shepho co-occurrence Appears with Shepho in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Alvan co-occurrence Appears with Alvan in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Onam co-occurrence Appears with Onam in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Manahath co-occurrence Appears with Manahath in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Shobal co-occurrence Appears with Shobal in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Aiah co-occurrence Appears with Aiah in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Zibeon co-occurrence Appears with Zibeon in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Beeri co-occurrence Appears with Beeri in 1 Chronicles 1.
Origin & meaning
Ebal was a son of Shobal and a descendant of Seir the Horite, mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family.
The biblical story
Ebal is mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family in Gen.36.23 and 1Ch.1.40. He is listed as one of the sons of Shobal, who was a descendant of Seir the Horite.
The Horites were the original inhabitants of Mount Seir, the region south of the Dead Sea, before Esau's descendants settled there (Deu.2.12). Seir the Horite, Ebal's ancestor, is mentioned as one of the chiefs of the Horites (Gen.36.20-21).
The inclusion of Ebal and other Horite names in Esau's genealogy suggests that there was intermarriage between Esau's descendants and the Horites. This intermingling of the two groups is further evidenced by the fact that Esau's grandson, Zepho, is also named as a descendant of Seir the Horite (Gen.36.11, 15).
Apart from being listed in these genealogies, no further information is provided about Ebal or his specific role in the biblical narrative. His mention serves to trace the origins and relationships of the people living in the region of Edom during the time of the patriarchs.
It is worth noting that there is another Ebal mentioned in the Bible, which is a mountain in the land of Canaan (Deu.11.29; 27.4, 13). However, this mountain is not related to the Ebal mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family.
Key verses
Ebal appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Genesis 36:23 -
The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
1 Chronicles 1:40
Show all 2 references
Genesis (1)
- Genesis 36:23
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 1:40