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Harbona
Harbona
חַרְבוֹנָא char.vo.na
Harbona (Hebrew: חַרְבוֹנָא, char.vo.na) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a king. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Abagtha in Esther 1.
Which Harbona?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Harbona
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Harbona
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Second Temple
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 | Esther 1:10 |
| Last appears | Esther 7:9 |
| Cross-references | 47 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Abagtha co-occurrence Appears with Abagtha in Esther 1.
- Bigtha co-occurrence Appears with Bigtha in Esther 1.
- Biztha co-occurrence Appears with Biztha in Esther 1.
- Carkas co-occurrence Appears with Carkas in Esther 1.
- Mehuman co-occurrence Appears with Mehuman in Esther 1.
- Zethar co-occurrence Appears with Zethar in Esther 1.
- Carshena co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Carshena.
- Admatha co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Admatha.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Est.1.10
§ Harbona or Harbonah = "ass-driver"
the 3rd of the seven chamberlains or eunuchs who served Ahasuerus
Harbona was one of the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus, as mentioned in the book of Esther.
The biblical story
Harbona is mentioned in Est.1.10 as one of the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, the Persian king who ruled over a vast empire from India to Ethiopia. He is the only one of the seven to be mentioned again (at Est.7.9). In the context of Esther 1, King Ahasuerus held a lavish banquet for all his officials and servants, displaying his wealth and splendor. On the seventh day of the feast, when the king was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs, including Harbona, to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown, to show off her beauty to the people and officials. However, Queen Vashti refused to come, defying the king's command. This incident led to Vashti's removal as queen and paved the way for Esther to become the new queen. The mention of Harbona as one of the seven eunuchs highlights the importance of these court officials in the Persian royal court and their role in carrying out the king's orders.
Key verses
Harbona appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
Esther 1:10 -
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
Esther 7:9
Show all 2 references
Esther (2)
- Esther 1:10
- Esther 7:9