<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-29</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-07-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000872835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESB FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESBF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180098</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SKUBA HERBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>728 MORNINGSTAR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELLWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>16117</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-29</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-29</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1724.1379</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>14.50</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>96364.669</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Ellwood City Hospital</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose - Owned by Ellwood City Hospital of which Mr. Skuba is the President and CEO. Includes 648.2228 shares acquired in July 2003 under the ESB Financial Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Mr. Skuba beneficially owns 56,088 (husband &amp; wife), 31,159 (individual), 5,566 (IRA) and his wife owns 38,176.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Herbert S. Skuba</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

