Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין

Male Tribe of Benjamin H1144G 21 books

Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel

Who is Benjamin in the Bible?

Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Old Testament, born after Rachel died giving birth to him (Genesis 35:18, 24). His mother Rachel named him Ben-oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," but Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand." As a young man, Benjamin remained at home while his brothers traveled to Egypt during a famine, but when he eventually joined them, Joseph showed him special favor and gave him five times more gifts than his brothers (Genesis 43:34, 45:22). Benjamin became one of the twelve sons of Jacob whose descendants formed the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and he represents the beloved youngest child and the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob and Rachel.

Biography

Benjamin was the youngest son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and his beloved wife Rachel. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin and named him Ben-oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," but Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand" (Gen. 35:18,24). Benjamin was one of the twelve sons of Jacob who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.

As a young man, Benjamin was kept at home by his father while his brothers went to Egypt to buy grain during a famine (Gen. 42:4). Later, when the brothers returned to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph showed favoritism towards him (Gen. 43:34). After Joseph revealed his identity, he sent his brothers back to Canaan with gifts, giving Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five sets of clothes (Gen. 45:22).

In Jacob's final blessing, he described Benjamin as a "ravenous wolf" (Gen. 49:27), possibly alluding to the tribe's fierceness in battle. During the Exodus, the tribe of Benjamin was led by Abidan son of Gideoni (Num. 1:11; 2:22). Notable Benjamites include Ehud, a left-handed judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression (Jdg. 3:15), and King Saul, the first king of Israel (1 Sam. 9:21).

The tribe of Benjamin was known for its military prowess and played a significant role in Israel's history, despite being one of the smallest tribes. They were loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam. 19:17) and later supported the southern kingdom of Judah after the division of the monarchy (1 Ki. 12:21). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul proudly identified himself as a Benjamite (Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5).

Family

In Scripture

21 biblical books ; 13 with study content
Genesis 5 verses
  • Genesis 35:18

    "And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin."

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  • Genesis 35:24

    "The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin."

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  • Genesis 42:4

    "But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm might befall him.”"

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  • Genesis 42:36

    "Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”"

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  • Genesis 43:14

    "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”"

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Exodus 1 verse
Numbers 5 verses
  • Numbers 1:11

    "from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;"

  • Numbers 1:36

    "From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,"

  • Numbers 1:37

    "those registered to the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400."

  • Numbers 2:22

    "Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni,"

  • Numbers 7:60

    "On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near."

Deuteronomy 2 verses
  • Deuteronomy 27:12

    "“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."

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  • Deuteronomy 33:12

    "Concerning Benjamin he said: “May the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him; God shields him all day long, and upon His shoulders he rests.”"

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Joshua 5 verses
  • Joshua 18:11

    "The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:"

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  • Joshua 18:20

    "On the east side the border was the Jordan. These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin."

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  • Joshua 18:21

    "These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,"

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  • Joshua 18:28

    "Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin."

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  • Joshua 21:4

    "The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin."

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Judges 5 verses
  • Judges 1:21

    "The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites."

  • Judges 5:14

    "Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun."

  • Judges 10:9

    "The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress."

  • Judges 19:14

    "So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin."

  • Judges 20:3

    "(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Transliteration Meaning
Named Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין binĕyāmiyn Binjamin , youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
(same form as previous) Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין binĕyāmiyn Binjamin , youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Named Hebrew בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י ben-ʾwōniy Ben-Oni , the original name of Benjamin
Named Hebrew יָמִין yāmîn the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
Group Hebrew בֶּן־יְמִינִי
Spelled Hebrew יְמִינִי
Spelled Hebrew יָֽמִינִי
Greek Greek Βενιαμίν Beniamín Benjamin, an Israelite