Lexical Summary Ben-oni: Son of My Sorrow Original Word: בֶּן־אוֹנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ben-oni From ben and 'aven; son of my sorrow; Ben-Oni, the original name of Benjamin -- Ben-oni. see HEBREW ben see HEBREW 'aven NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ben and aven Definition "son of my sorrow," Rachel's name for Benjamin NASB Translation Ben-oni (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֶּןאֿוֺנִ֑י proper name, masculine (son of my sorrow) Rachel's name for Benjamin (compare below) Genesis 35:18. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Ben-oni means “son of my sorrow” or “son of my affliction,” signifying the deep grief of Rachel as she gave her life to bear Jacob’s twelfth son. Narrative Context Genesis 35:16-20 records Jacob’s journey southward from Bethel when Rachel goes into hard labor near Ephrath (Bethlehem). “And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35:18). Rachel’s choice memorializes her anguish; Jacob’s renaming (“son of the right hand”) asserts hope and honor for the child’s future. The episode occurs amid covenant renewal (Genesis 35:9-15), so the sorrow of death is set against the backdrop of divine promises. Contrast with Benjamin Jacob’s quick renaming does not negate Rachel’s word; rather, the two names together display the tension between human pain and divine purpose. In Scripture, “sorrow” often precedes exaltation (Psalm 30:5; John 16:20-22). Ben-oni captures Rachel’s perspective, Benjamin reflects Jacob’s faith. The dual naming prefigures the pattern of grief turned to glory that culminates in the resurrection of Christ. Historical Legacy of the Tribe From the child once called Ben-oni came the tribe of Benjamin, positioned between Judah and Ephraim, serving as a strategic buffer and home to the future holy city (Joshua 18:11-28). The tribe produced notable figures: Ehud the judge (Judges 3:15), King Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2), Esther and Mordecai (Esther 2:5), and the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). Thus, Rachel’s momentary sorrow gave rise to enduring service in Israel’s history. Typological and Christological Reflections Isaiah foretells the Messiah as “a Man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3), yet after His suffering He is seated at the Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 10:12). Ben-oni/Benjamin anticipates this pattern: sorrow answered by honor at the right hand. Bethlehem, near the place of Rachel’s tomb, later becomes the birthplace of Jesus (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1), reinforcing the redemptive reversal. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Suffering is not the final word. Like Ben-oni, believers may be marked by affliction, yet the Father confers a new name and destiny (Revelation 2:17). Ben-oni appears only once, yet his name encapsulates the biblical rhythm of lament transformed into legacy, emphasizing that God’s covenant purposes prevail over human anguish. Forms and Transliterations אוֹנִ֑י אוני ’ō·w·nî ’ōwnî oNiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 35:18 HEB: שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־ אוֹנִ֑י וְאָבִ֖יו קָֽרָא־ NAS: that she named him Ben-oni; but his father KJV: his name Benoni: but his father INT: called his name Ben-oni his father called 1 Occurrence |
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