2797. Kis

Lexical Summary

Kis: Kish

Original Word: Κίς
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Kis
Pronunciation: kees
Phonetic Spelling: (kis)
KJV: Cis
NASB: Kish
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H7027 (קִישׁ - Kish))]

1. Cis (i.e. Kish), an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Kish

Of Hebrew origin (Qiysh); Cis (i.e. Kish), an Israelite -- Cis.

see HEBREW Qiysh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Qish
Definition
Kish, the father of King Saul
NASB Translation
Kish (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2797: κεἰς

κεἰς, see Κίς.

STRONGS NT 2797: ΚίςΚίς (L T Tr WH κεἰς (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 155; Tdf, Proleg., p. 84; Buttmann, 6 note{1}, and see εἰ, ἰ)), ὁ, indeclinable (קִישׁ (perhaps 'a bow' (Gesenius)) from קושׁ, to lay snares), Kish, the father of Saul, the first king of Israel: Acts 13:21.

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences in Scripture

The Greek form Κίς appears once in the New Testament, Acts 13:21, where Paul recounts Israel’s transition from judges to monarchy: “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years”. Behind this single Greek occurrence stands the well-attested Hebrew name “Kish,” which surfaces repeatedly in the Old Testament narrative and genealogies.

Historical Background

Kish lived during the closing years of the judges and the rise of the united monarchy. A Benjamite of notable standing, he resided at Gibeah (1 Samuel 10:26) and possessed servants, asses, and cultivated fields—markers of moderate wealth (1 Samuel 9:1-5). His era was characterized by Philistine oppression (1 Samuel 9:16; 13:19-23), political decentralization, and spiritual inconsistency in Israel. Into this context God called Kish’s son Saul to serve as the first king.

Genealogical Significance

1. Benjamite Lineage: Kish is presented as the son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, great-grandson of Becorath, and great-great-grandson of Aphiah (1 Samuel 9:1). Parallel lists in 1 Chronicles 8:29-33 and 9:35-39 integrate him into the house of Jeiel, solidifying his place among the chief families of Benjamin.
2. Covenant Continuity: By establishing Saul’s ancestry, Scripture safeguards the tribal integrity prophesied in Genesis 49:27, where Benjamin is pictured as a “ravenous wolf.” Kish thus embodies the prophetic tribe from which Israel’s inaugural monarch would spring.
3. Additional Bearers of the Name: The Chronicler names at least two other individuals called Kish—one a Merarite Levite in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:12), another among the exiles returning with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:43; Nehemiah 7:47). Hence the name spans both royal and priestly spheres, reminding readers that God preserves faithful witnesses in multiple tribes and generations.

Theological Insights

• Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency: Though Kish never occupies center stage, his search for lost donkeys (1 Samuel 9:3) launches Saul on the providential path toward Samuel and the kingship. God silently orchestrates seemingly mundane events to fulfill covenant purposes.
• Humility Preceding Exaltation: Kish’s line, not Judah’s, first receives the crown—a temporary grant that accentuates God’s right to elevate and to remove (Psalm 75:7), ultimately clearing the way for the everlasting dynasty of David.
• Legacy and Responsibility: Saul’s later failures reflect upon his father’s house (1 Samuel 15:26; 2 Samuel 21:14). The burial of Saul and Jonathan “in the tomb of Kish his father” (2 Samuel 21:14) underlines both honor and the sobering accountability tied to family heritage.

Ministry Application

1. God Works Through Ordinary People: Kish was neither prophet nor priest, yet his faithfulness in daily tasks positioned his family for pivotal kingdom service. Believers today are encouraged to steward everyday responsibilities, trusting God to weave eternal significance from temporal duties.
2. Spiritual Pedigree Is No Substitute for Obedience: Although Saul’s lineage was unimpeachable, his disobedience forfeited lasting dynasty (1 Samuel 13:13-14). Congregations should value heritage but prize ongoing faithfulness above ancestral reputation.
3. Intercessory Role of Parents: Kish’s quiet presence invites modern parents to pray that their children, like Saul in his early humility, would be filled with the Spirit for God’s purposes (1 Samuel 10:10).

Prophetic Connections

Kish’s Benjamite descent anticipates New Testament patterns. Paul—also “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1)—recalls Saul son of Kish in Acts 13:21 as part of the salvation-historical sketch that culminates in Jesus Christ. In doing so, he shows that every stage of Israel’s story, including the brief monarchy of Saul, prepares the way for the promised Son of David whose reign is everlasting (Acts 13:22-23).

Summary

The solitary New Testament mention of Κίς opens a window onto a rich Old Testament tapestry. Kish stands as a witness to God’s meticulous governance of lineage, national leadership, and redemptive history. From his household emerged Israel’s first king, signaling both the perils of misplaced sovereignty and the patience of God who, through successive covenants and generations, guides His people toward the ultimate reign of Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

εκίσσησέ Κεις Κείς κίονας Κίς κιχρά κιχρώ κιχρών Kis Kís

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 13:21 N
GRK: Σαοὺλ υἱὸν Κίς ἄνδρα ἐκ
NAS: the son of Kish, a man
KJV: Saul the son of Cis, a man of
INT: Saul son of kish a man of [the]

Strong's Greek 2797
1 Occurrence

Κίς — 1 Occ.