SUBJECT · Complete Bible Study

Benjamin

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, who was born, A. M. Benjamin is rendered in the installed Bible Names resource as “son of the right hand.” This unified study connects 8 installed resource categories without replacing their source records.

View overview sources
  • Historical Reference: Nave’s Topical Bible — Public domain
  • Historical Reference: Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)
  • Historical Reference: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
  • Historical Reference: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
  • Historical Reference: concordance
  • Historical Reference: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)
  • Historical Reference: Installed reference work

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Study overview

Study at a glance

Subject type
Subject
Strong’s
G0958, H1144
Hebrew
בִּנְיָמִין · Binyâmîyn
Greek
Βενιαμίν · Beniamin
Name meaning
son of the right hand According to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Strong’s and original-language information

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

Βενιαμίν

G0958
Transliteration
Beniamin
Language
Greek
Part of speech
N:N-M-P
Indexed occurrences
4

Glosses

Benjamin

Lexicon definition

Βενιαμίν, (Rec. -μίν), ὁ, indecl. (Heb. בֶּנְיָמִין), Benjamin: Act.13:21, Rom.11:1, Php.3:5, Rev.7:8.† (AS)

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

בִּנְיָמִין

H1144
Transliteration
Binyâmîyn
Pronunciation
bin-yaw-mene'
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
166

Glosses

Benjamin.

Lexicon definition

Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob

also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

Complete dictionary entries

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Benjamin

son of the right hand

Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary · View data sources

A Biblical and Theological Dictionary

BENJAMIN

the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, who was born, A. M. 2272. Jacob, being on his journey from Mesopotamia, as he was proceeding southward with Rachel in the company, Gen. xxxv, 16, 17, &c, the pains of child-bearing came upon her, about a quarter of a league from Bethlehem, and she died after the delivery of a son, whom, with her last breath, she named Benoni, that is, “the son of my sorrow;” but soon afterward Jacob changed his name, and called him Benjamin, that is, “the son of my right hand.” See JOSEPH.

Source: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary · View data sources

Concordance

Strong's Concordance

Benjamin

Indexed occurrences: 131

Source: Strong's Concordance · View data sources

All Scripture references150 references

Genesis 15

Exodus 1

Numbers 10

Deuteronomy 3

Joshua 6

Judges 18

1 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 6

1 Kings 7

2 Kings 2

1 Chronicles 12

2 Chronicles 14

Ezra 8

Nehemiah 6

Esther 1

Psalms 2

Jeremiah 10

Ezekiel 4

Hosea 1

Obadiah 1

Zechariah 1

Mark 1

Luke 4

Acts 2

Romans 1

Philippians 1

Revelation 1

Topical Bible

Bible Names

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Benjamin

Meaning:
son of the right hand

Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary · View data sources

Sources

Ancient Context8 items

Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Isaac Died, And Was Buried In Hebron.

Antiquities Book 1, Chapter 22

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Joseph When He Was Become Famous In Egypt, Had His Brethren In Subjection.

Antiquities Book 2, Chapter 6

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How, After The Death Of Joshua Their Commander, The Israelites Transgressed The Laws Of Their Country, And Experienced Great Afflictions; And When There Was A Sedition Arisen, The Tribe Of Benjamin Was Destroyed Excepting Only Six Hundred Men.

Antiquities Book 5, Chapter 2

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

The Appointment Of A King Over The Israelites, Whose Name Was Saul; And This By The Command Of God.

Antiquities Book 6, Chapter 4

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How David Reigned Over One Tribe At Hebron While The Son Of Saul Reigned Over The Rest Of The Multitude; And How, In The Civil War Which Then Arose Asahel And Abner Were Slain.

Antiquities Book 7, Chapter 1

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How David, When He Had Recovered His Kingdom, Was Reconciled To Shimei, And To Ziba; And Showed A Great Affection To Barzillai; And How, Upon The Rise Of A Sedition, He Made Amasa Captain Of His Host, In Order To Pursue Seba; Which Amasa Was Slain By Joab.

Antiquities Book 7, Chapter 11

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

What Charge David Gave To his Son Solomon At The Approach Of His Death, And How Many Things He Left Him For The Building Of The Temple.

Antiquities Book 7, Chapter 15

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Upon The Death Of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned In His Stead; Against Whom Rezin, King Of Syria And Pekah King Of Israel, Made War; And How Tiglath-Pileser, King Of Assyria Came To The Assistance Of Ahaz, And Laid Syria Waste And Removing The Damascenes Into Media Placed Other Nations In Their Room.

Antiquities Book 9, Chapter 12

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Related UNLEARN Content24 items

Topic

BENJAMIN

Nave’s Topical Bible references for BENJAMIN.

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Dictionary

Ananiah

Protected by Yahweh, the name of a town in the tribe of Benjamin between Nob and Hazor (Neh. 11:32). It is probably the modern Beit Hanina, a small village 3 miles north of Jerusalem.

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Archi

A city on the boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:2), between Bethel and Beth-horon the nether.

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Baal-hazor

Having a courtyard, or Baal's village, the place on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin where Absalom held the feast of sheep-shearing when Amnon was assassinated (2 Sam. 13:23). Probably it is the same with Hazor (Neh. 11:33), now Tell' Asur, 5 miles north-east of Bethel.

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Bela

A thing swallowed. (1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far from Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the only one of the five cities that was spared at Lot's intercession (Gen. 19:20, 23). It is first mentioned in Gen. 14:2, 8. (2.) The eldest son of Benjamin (Num. 26:38; "Belah," Gen. 46:21). (3.) The son of Beor, and a king of Edom (Gen. 36:32, 33; 1 Chr. 1:43). (4.) A son of Azaz (1 Chr. 5:8).

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Benjamin

son of the right hand

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Beth-arabah

House of the desert, one of the six cities of Judah, situated in the sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea (Josh. 18:22). In Josh. 15:61 it is said to have been "in the wilderness." It was afterwards included in the towns of Benjamin. It is called Arabah (Josh. 18:18).

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Bow

The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Gen. 21:20; 27:3; 48:22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (1 Chr. 8:40; 12:2; 2 Chr. 14:8; 17:17); so also were the Elamites (Isa. 22:6) and the Lydians (Jer. 46:9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (1 Chr. 5:18; 8:40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bow. Bows of steel (correctly "copper") are mentioned (2 Sam. 22:35; Ps. 18:34). The arrows were carried in a quiver (Gen. 27:3; Isa. 22:6; 49:2; Ps. 127:5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached to them (Ps. 120:4). The bow is a symbol of victory (Ps. 7:12). It denotes also falsehood, deceit (Ps. 64:3, 4; Hos. 7:16; Jer. 9:3). "The use of the bow" in 2 Sam. 1:18 (A.V.) ought to be "the song of the bow," as in the Revised Version.

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Child

This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7). The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, "the children of Edom," "the children of Moab," "the children of Israel." In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Gen. 21:8; Ex. 2:7, 9; 1 Sam. 1:22-24; Matt. 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (Deut. 6:20-25; 11:19). To have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Gen. 11:30; 30:1; 1 Sam. 2:5; 2 Sam. 6:23; Ps. 127:3; 128:3). Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matt. 11:16; Luke 7:32; 1 Cor. 13:11). "When I was a child, I spake as a child." "Brethren, be not children in understanding" (1 Cor. 14:20). "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro" (Eph. 4:14). Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). Believers are "children of light" (Luke 16:8; 1 Thess. 5:5) and "children of obedience" (1 Pet. 1:14).

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Gedor

A wall. (1.) A city in the mountains or hill country of Judah (Josh. 15:58), identified with Jedar, between Jerusalem and Hebron. (2.) 1 Chr. 4:39, the Gederah of Josh. 15:36, or the well-known Gerar, as the LXX. read, where the patriarchs of old had sojourned and fed their flocks (Gen. 20:1, 14, 15; 26:1, 6, 14). (3.) A town apparently in Benjamin (1 Chr. 12:7), the same probably as Geder (Josh. 12:13).

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Hadid

Pointed, a place in the tribe of Benjamin near Lydda, or Lod, and Ono (Ezra 2:33; Neh. 7:37). It is identified with the modern el-Haditheh, 3 miles east of Lydda.

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Hill

(1.) Heb. gib'eah, a curved or rounded hill, such as are common to Palestine (Ps. 65:12; 72:3; 114:4, 6). (2.) Heb. har, properly a mountain range rather than an individual eminence (Ex. 24:4, 12, 13, 18; Num. 14:40, 44, 45). In Deut. 1:7, Josh. 9:1; 10:40; 11:16, it denotes the elevated district of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, which forms the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. (3.) Heb. ma'aleh in 1 Sam. 9:11. Authorized Version "hill" is correctly rendered in the Revised Version "ascent." (4.) In Luke 9:37 the "hill" is the Mount of Transfiguration.

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Jeiel

Snatched away by God. (1.) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chr. 9:35; 8:29). (2.) One of the Levites who took part in praising God on the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 16:5). (3.) 2 Chr. 29:13. A Levite of the sons of Asaph. (4.) 2 Chr. 26:11. A scribe. (5.) 1 Chr. 5:7. A Reubenite chief. (6.) One of the chief Levites, who made an offering for the restoration of the Passover by Josiah (2 Chr. 35:9). (7.) Ezra 8:13. (8.) Ezra 10:43.

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Judah, Kingdom of

When the disruption took place at Shechem, at first only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. But very soon after the tribe of Benjamin joined the tribe of Judah, and Jerusalem became the capital of the new kingdom (Josh. 18:28), which was called the kingdom of Judah. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish county of Perth. For the first sixty years the kings of Judah aimed at re-establishing their authority over the kingdom of the other ten tribes, so that there was a state of perpetual war between them. For the next eighty years there was no open war between them. For the most part they were in friendly alliance, co-operating against their common enemies, especially against Damascus. For about another century and a half Judah had a somewhat checkered existence after the termination of the kingdom of Israel till its final overthrow in the destruction of the temple (B.C. 588) by Nebuzar-adan, who was captain of Nebuchadnezzar's body-guard (2 Kings 25:8-21). The kingdom maintained a separate existence for three hundred and eighty-nine years. It occupied an area of 3,435 square miles. (See ISRAEL, KINGDOM [327]OF.)

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Left-handed

(Judg. 3:15; 20:16), one unable to use the right hand skilfully, and who therefore uses the left; and also one who uses the left as well as the right, ambidexter. Such a condition of the hands is due to physical causes. This quality was common apparently in the tribe of Benjamin.

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Madmenah

Ibid., a town in Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, towards the north (Isa. 10:31). The same Hebrew word occurs in Isa. 25:10, where it is rendered "dunghill." This verse has, however, been interpreted as meaning "that Moab will be trodden down by Yahweh as teben [broken straw] is trodden to fragments on the threshing-floors of Madmenah."

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Michmash

Something hidden, a town of Benjamin (Ezra 2:27), east of Bethel and south of Migron, on the road to Jerusalem (Isa. 10:28). It lay on the line of march of an invading army from the north, on the north side of the steep and precipitous Wady es-Suweinit ("valley of the little thorn-tree" or "the acacia"), and now bears the name of Mukhmas. This wady is called "the passage of Michmash" (1 Sam. 13:23). Immediately facing Mukhmas, on the opposite side of the ravine, is the modern representative of Geba, and behind this again are Ramah and Gibeah. This was the scene of a great battle fought between the army of Saul and the Philistines, who were utterly routed and pursued for some 16 miles towards Philistia as far as the valley of Aijalon. "The freedom of Benjamin secured at Michmash led through long years of conflict to the freedom of all its kindred tribes." The power of Benjamin and its king now steadily increased. A new spirit and a new hope were now at work in Israel. (See [399]SAUL.)

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Naarath

Girl, a town on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:7), not far probably from Jericho, to the north (1 Chr. 7:28).

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Nephtoah

Opened, a fountain and a stream issuing from it on the border between Judah and Benjamin (Josh. 15:8, 9; 18:15). It has been identified with Ain Lifta, a spring about 2 1/2 miles north-west of Jerusalem. Others, however, have identified it with Ain' Atan, on the south-west of Bethlehem, whence water is conveyed through "Pilate's aqueduct" to the Haram area at Jerusalem.

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Rama

(Matt. 2:18), the Greek form of Ramah. (1.) A city first mentioned in Josh. 18:25, near Gibeah of Benjamin. It was fortified by Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 15:17-22; 2 Chr. 16:1-6). Asa, king of Judah, employed Benhadad the Syrian king to drive Baasha from this city (1 Kings 15:18, 20). Isaiah (10:29) refers to it, and also Jeremiah, who was once a prisoner there among the other captives of Jerusalem when it was taken by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 39:8-12; 40:1). Rachel, whose tomb lies close to Bethlehem, is represented as weeping in Ramah (Jer. 31:15) for her slaughtered children. This prophecy is illustrated and fulfilled in the re-awakening of Rachel's grief at the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:18). It is identified with the modern village of er-Ram, between Gibeon and Beeroth, about 5 miles due north of Jerusalem. (See [518]SAMUEL.) (2.) A town identified with Rameh, on the border of Asher, about 13 miles south-east of Tyre, "on a solitary hill in the midst of a basin of green fields" (Josh. 19:29). (3.) One of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali (Josh. 19:36), on a mountain slope, about seven and a half miles west-south-west of Safed, and 15 miles west of the north end of the Sea of Galilee, the present large and well-built village of Rameh. (4.) The same as Ramathaim-zophim (q.v.), a town of Mount Ephraim (1 Sam. 1:1, 19). (5.) The same as Ramoth-gilead (q.v.), 2 Kings 8:29; 2 Chr. 22:6.

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Seirath

Woody district; shaggy, a place among the mountains of Ephraim, bordering on Benjamin, to which Ehud fled after he had assassinated Eglon at Jericho (Judg. 3:26, 27).

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Shual, The land of

Land of the fox, a district in the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam. 13:17); possibly the same as Shalim (9:4), in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin (Josh. 19:42).

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Uzziel

Strength of God. (1.) One of the sons of Kohath, and uncle of Aaron (Ex. 6:18; Lev. 10:4). (2.) A Simeonite captain (1 Chr. 4:39-43). (3.) A son of Bela, and grandson of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:7). (4.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4); called also Azareel (18). (5.) A son of Jeduthan (2 Chr. 29:14). (6.) The son of Harhaiah (Neh. 3:8). __________________________________________________________________

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Wolf

Heb. zeeb, frequently referred to in Scripture as an emblem of treachery and cruelty. Jacob's prophecy, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf" (Gen. 49:27), represents the warlike character of that tribe (see Judg. 19-21). Isaiah represents the peace of Messiah's kingdom by the words, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb" (Isa. 11:6). The habits of the wolf are described in Jer. 5:6; Hab. 1:8; Zeph. 3:3; Ezek. 22:27; Matt. 7:15; 10:16; Acts 20:29. Wolves are still sometimes found in Palestine, and are the dread of shepherds, as of old.

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