Lexical Summary Beniamin: Benjamin Original Word: Βενιαμίν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Benjamin. Of Hebrew origin (Binyamiyn); Benjamin, an Israelite -- Benjamin. see HEBREW Binyamiyn NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Binyamin Definition Benjamin, one of the twelve Isr. tribes NASB Translation Benjamin (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 958: ΒενιαμίνΒενιαμίν (Βενιάμειν L T Tr WH; see WH's Appendix, p. 155, and under the word εἰ, ἰ), ὁ (בִּנְיָמִין, i. e. בֶּן־יָמִין, son of the right hand, i. e. of good fortune, Genesis 35:18), Benjamin, Jacob's twelfth son; φυλή Βενιαμίν the tribe of Benjamin: Acts 13:21; Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5; Revelation 7:8. Topical Lexicon Identity in the Canon Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, born amid sorrow yet named for favor (Genesis 35:16-18). From this beloved child sprang a tribe that occupied a strategic strip of land between Ephraim and Judah, encompassing Jerusalem’s northern approaches (Joshua 18:11-28). Though numerically small, Benjamin’s tribe left an outsized mark on Israel’s monarchy, prophetic history, and New Testament ministry. Old Testament Profile of the Tribe • Military Valor: The Benjaminites were renowned archers and sling-bearers—skilled, left-handed warriors who fought with ambidextrous precision (Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2). New Testament Occurrences and Significance Acts 13:21—“Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.” The verse recalls God’s sovereign hand in history, using Benjamin’s first monarch to prepare the way for the true King, Jesus Christ. Romans 11:1—“I ask then, has God rejected His people? Certainly not! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.” Paul’s self-identification secures two truths: Israel is not cast off, and heritage does not hinder grace. Philippians 3:5—“circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;” Here Paul counts his Benjaminite pedigree among the “gains” he willingly loses for Christ, turning ancestral privilege into a testimony of surpassing grace. Revelation 7:8—“from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand.” Benjamin appears among the sealed servants, confirming eschatological inclusion and the Lord’s unwavering faithfulness to every tribe. Christological Foreshadowing Benjamin’s birth narrative contains notable parallels: a beloved son associated with the right-hand motif, preserved through suffering, later giving rise to figures (Joseph’s younger brother, Saul of Tarsus) who point forward to the Beloved Son seated at the right hand of the Father. The tribe’s proximity to Jerusalem prefigures the Gospel’s epicenter, while its history of near extinction and restoration mirrors resurrection themes fulfilled in Christ. Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Heritage Is a Stewardship: Paul models how ancestral blessings serve the Gospel rather than supplant it. Historical Legacy in the Church Early Christian writers highlighted Paul’s Benjaminite background to defend continuity between the covenants. Medieval commentators saw in Benjamin a type of contemplative Christians who feast upon Scripture (Genesis 49:27). Reformation expositors drew comfort from Benjamin’s survival as evidence that God’s promises to ethnic Israel endure. Contemporary Application Believers today draw encouragement from Benjamin’s story: no lineage, limitation, or past failure can thwart God’s redemptive intentions. The apostolic witness rooted in Benjamin’s tribe urges the Church to proclaim the Gospel with the same zeal that once animated Saul of Tarsus, transformed into the Apostle Paul, “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles” (Romans 15:16). Forms and Transliterations Βενιαμειν Βενιαμείν Βενιαμεὶν Βενιαμίν Βενιαμὶν Beniamin Beniamín BeniamìnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 13:21 NGRK: ἐκ φυλῆς Βενιαμίν ἔτη τεσσεράκοντα NAS: of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty KJV: the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty INT: of [the] tribe of Benjamin years forty Romans 11:1 N Philippians 3:5 N Revelation 7:8 N |
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