The Hebrew word אֶבְיוֹן (ebyón), identified as Strong's H34, is an important term in the biblical context referring to a poor or needy person.
From H14, in the sense of desiring (especially in feeling); indigent: beggar, needy, needy, poor.
Etymological meaning: The word אֶבְיוֹן (ebyón) derives from the Hebrew root אבה (avah), which conveys the idea of "desiring" or "longing." Etymologically, therefore, it refers to someone who is in need or who yearns for what they do not have.
Biblical Context: This word appears approximately 61 times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in:
Legislative Texts:
In laws protecting the poor, such as in Exodus 23:6: "You shall not pervert the justice of your beggar (אֶבְיוֹן) in his dispute."
In Deuteronomy 15:4-11, which gives instructions on how to treat the poor and needy.
Wisdom Literature:
In Proverbs (as in 14:31): "He who oppresses the poor (דָּל, dal) dishonors his Maker, but he who has mercy on the poor (אֶבְיוֹן, ebyon) honors him."
In Job, where it appears in discussions of social justice.
Prophetic Literature:
The prophets use this word to denounce injustices against the poor.
Amos 2:6: "Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the poor (אֶבְיוֹן) for a pair of sandals."
Isaiah 29:19, Jeremiah 2:34, etc.
Psalms:
It frequently appears in supplications for justice and in praise of God for defending the poor.
Psalm 72:12-13: "For he will deliver the needy who cry out, and the afflicted who have no helper. He will have compassion on the poor (דָּל, dal) and the needy (אֶבְיוֹן, ebyón), and will save the lives of the needy."
Theological and Social Significance:
Social Justice: The protection of the אֶבְיוֹן (ebyón) is a central element of biblical social ethics. Treatment of the poor is considered proof of faithfulness to the covenant with God.
Communal Responsibility: Biblical law establishes numerous provisions for the care of the poor, such as harvesting the edges of the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10), the Sabbatical year, and the Jubilee (Leviticus 25).
Divine Identification: In several passages, God identifies Himself as the defender of the poor and needy, establishing a connection between social justice and faith in Yahweh.
Later Development: The concept of the ebyon (the poor) gained importance in the development of later Judaism, and there is evidence that some Jewish groups in the Second Temple period called themselves "ebionim" (the poor), possibly as an expression of their spiritual dependence on God.
This word reflects a fundamental concept in biblical ethics: the responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in society as an integral part of a life faithful to God, establishing a direct connection between social justice practices and true spirituality.
