בַּ֫יִן H0996
Between, among; preposition marking spatial, relational, or conceptual interval separating two or more entities
The Hebrew preposition ben marks the interval or space between two or more points, whether physical, temporal, or abstract. It appears over 400 times across the Hebrew Bible, structuring distinctions as foundational as light from darkness (Gen 1:4) and the waters above from below (Gen 1:6). With pronominal suffixes and in constructions like mibben ('from between'), it conveys nuanced relational positioning. Cognates in Aramaic, Syriac, and Arabic confirm its pan-Semitic pedigree as the quintessential word for 'between.'
Senses
1. between, among — Preposition indicating the interval or space separating two or more referents, whether spatial (Gen 15:17 'between the pieces'), relational (Gen 26:28 'between us'), temporal, or conceptual (Gen 1:4 'between the light and the darkness'). Cognate Arabic bayn and Aramaic ben confirm the pan-Semitic role of this word. Pronominal suffixes and compound forms like mibben extend its reach across virtually every genre of biblical literature. 410×
AR["بَيْنَ", "بَيْنَ-"]·ben["-মধ্যে", "-মধ্যে-", "মধ্যে", "মধ্যে-"]·DE["zwischen", "zwischen-"]·EN["between"]·FR["entre"]·heb["בין"]·HI["बिच-मे", "बिच-मे-", "बीच", "बीच-में"]·ID["antara", "antara-", "di-antara"]·IT["fra"]·jav["antawis", "antawis-", "antawisipun", "ing-antawis", "wonten-antawis"]·KO["-사이에", "~사이에", "사이-에", "사이로", "사이에", "사이에-", "사이에서"]·PT["entre", "entre-"]·RU["между"]·ES["entre"]·SW["kati", "kati-ya", "ndani-ya"]·TR["arasında", "arasında-", "arasından"]·urd["بیچ", "درمیان"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[בַּ֫יִן] subst. proposes interval, space between (بَيْنٌ id.)—cstr. בֵּין, once Is 44:4 (Baer) בֵּן, בֵּינִי, בֵּֽינְךָ, בֵינֵךְ, בֵּינוֹ (בֵּינָיו †Jos 3:4; 8:11 Qr); with pl. sf. in pl. form בֵּינֵינוּ (בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; also בֵּינוֹת †Ez 10:2(×2), 6(×2), 7(×2) (+ 1:13 𝔊 Hi Ew etc. for דְּמוּת), בֵּינוֹתֵינוּ †Gn 26:28 Jos 22:34 Ju 11:10, בֵּינוֹתָם †Gn 42:23 2 S 21:7 Je 25:16; dual בֵּנַיִם…