1134. Ben-chayil

Lexical Summary

Ben-chayil: Son of valor, valiant man, warrior

Original Word: בֶּן־חַיִל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ben-Chayil
Pronunciation: ben-khah-YEEL
Phonetic Spelling: (ben-khah'-yil)
KJV: Ben-hail
NASB: Ben-hail
Word Origin: [from H1121 (בֵּן - sons) and H2428 (חַיִל - army)]

1. son of might
2. Ben-Chail, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ben-hail

From ben and chayil; son of might; Ben-Chail, an Israelite -- Ben-hail.

see HEBREW ben

see HEBREW chayil

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from ben and chayil
Definition
"son of might," one of Jehoshaphat's leaders
NASB Translation
Ben-hail (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בֶּןחַֿ֫יִל proper name, masculine (son (man) of might) a prince of Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:7.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

Ben-hayil (“son of strength” or “son of valor”) appears once in the Old Testament as the proper name of a Judean official (2 Chronicles 17:7). The compound title implies a lineage or character marked by proven ability, courage, or noble standing, qualities prized in royal service.

Historical Setting

Ben-hayil emerges during the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah (circa 873-848 BC). Jehoshaphat inherited a kingdom recently stabilized after the reforms of his father Asa. Determined to consolidate faithfulness to the LORD, the king initiated a far-reaching program of religious instruction, dispatching selected leaders—lay nobles, Levites, and priests—to re-teach the Law throughout Judah (2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

Role in Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

“In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah” (2 Chronicles 17:7). Ben-hayil heads the list of five royal “officials” (Hebrew śārîm), distinct from the Levites and priests named in verse 8. These men functioned as the king’s authorized representatives, securing civic cooperation, transporting copies of the Torah, and lending governmental weight to the teaching mission. Their presence underscored that the covenant was to govern both sanctuary and state.

Character and Qualifications

1. Valor and competence—the semantic range of ḥayil embraces military might (Judges 6:12), wealth (Ruth 2:1), and administrative capacity (1 Kings 10:25).
2. Credibility—positioned first, Ben-hayil likely ranked highest among the five, perhaps a prince or chief officer (compare 2 Chronicles 17:14).
3. Devotion—Jehoshaphat surrounded himself with God-fearing men (2 Chronicles 19:9). The inclusion of Ben-hayil implies personal alignment with the king’s spiritual agenda.

Theological Implications

• Scripture-centered leadership: The mission anticipates later prophetic calls for covenant fidelity (Hosea 4:6).
• Integration of civil and sacred spheres: Royal officials join Levites and priests, illustrating that God’s Word governs every sector of life, not merely worship rituals.
• Revival through teaching: The resulting “fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah” (2 Chronicles 17:10). Ben-hayil’s obedience helped kindle regional awe and peace.

Lessons for Today

• Courageous servants are essential to national and congregational renewal.
• Lay leadership, when grounded in Scripture, complements ordained ministry.
• Lasting reform spreads when authoritative voices carry God’s Word beyond temple walls into everyday society.

Related References

2 Chronicles 17:7-10; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 2 Chronicles 19:4-11; Hosea 4:6; Nehemiah 8:1-12

Forms and Transliterations

חַ֙יִל֙ חיל chayil ḥa·yil ḥayil

Englishman's Concordance

2 Chronicles 17:7
HEB: לְשָׂרָיו֙ לְבֶן־ חַ֙יִל֙ וּלְעֹבַדְיָ֣ה וְלִזְכַרְיָ֔ה
NAS: his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah,
KJV: to his princes, [even] to Benhail, and to Obadiah,
INT: sent his officials Ben-hail Obadiah Zechariah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1134
1 Occurrence

ḥa·yil — 1 Occ.