Lexical Summary Ner: Ner Original Word: נֵר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ner The same as niyr; lamp; Ner, an Israelite -- Ner. see HEBREW niyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as ner Definition father of Abner, also the father of Kish NASB Translation Ner (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֵר proper name, masculine ᵐ5 Νηρ 1 father of Abner 1 Samuel 14:50; 1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Samuel 26:5; 1 Samuel 26:14; 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 2:12; 2 Samuel 3:23; 2 Samuel 3:25; 2 Samuel 3:28; 2 Samuel 2:37; 1 Kings 2:5; 1 Kings 2:32; 1 Chronicles 26:28. 2 father of Kish 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:36,39. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Nēr (נֵר) bears the ordinary Hebrew sense of “lamp” or “light,” an apt metaphor for a family placed by God at the very center of Israel’s early monarchy. Genealogical Setting in Israel The man Ner belongs to the tribe of Benjamin and the house of Abiel. Scripture sets him alongside his brother Kish: “Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, the son of Abiel” (1 Samuel 14:51). Thus Ner is Saul’s uncle and Abner—Israel’s first recorded commander-in-chief—becomes Saul’s cousin. 1 Chronicles adds a second notice: “Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul” (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39). The Chronicler’s compression places Ner one generation higher, a reminder that biblical genealogies may telescope without contradiction, preserving theological rather than exhaustive detail. Role in the Rise of Israel’s Monarchy Although Ner himself is never shown acting on Israel’s stage, his name frames the career of his son. From Saul’s accession (1 Samuel 14:50) through the civil conflict that followed Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2:8, 12), the expression “Abner son of Ner” appears as a fixed military title, underscoring the authority Abner carried by virtue of his lineage. David later recalls that Joab “struck down two men more righteous and better than he—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army” (1 Kings 2:32). Thus the memory of Ner’s house remained a touchstone of justice in Israel’s royal conscience. Association with the Temple Treasuries Centuries later the Chronicler notes that “everything dedicated by … Abner son of Ner … was under the care of Shelomith and his relatives” (1 Chronicles 26:28). Spoils of war first gathered by Ner’s son are now devoted to Yahweh’s sanctuary, hinting that the family’s “lamp” ultimately served the worship of God rather than mere political power. Biblical Portrait and Character Insights The silence about Ner’s personal deeds is itself instructive. Scripture shows how unseen faithfulness in one generation can yield visible influence in the next. Ner’s heritage produces Abner, a general of strategic skill; Kish, a man whose son Saul is chosen by God; and, through Saul, a dynasty that leads Israel to yearn for a king “after God’s own heart” (compare 1 Samuel 13:14). Symbolic Significance of “Lamp” “Lamp” imagery threads through redemptive history: Yahweh is David’s “lamp” (2 Samuel 22:29); the Davidic kingdom is promised “a lamp in Jerusalem” (1 Kings 11:36). By bearing the name Ner, this Benjamite family foreshadows God’s intent to set lights in Israel until the True Light comes (John 1:9). Even in narrative sections, the Holy Spirit weaves theological meaning into proper names, reminding readers that every lineage is under divine providence. Ministerial and Devotional Applications • Legacy: Hidden influence—parents, uncles, elders—can shape national destiny. Thus the brief biblical appearances of Ner illuminate the long reach of covenant faithfulness, demonstrating how God kindles one small lamp to guide an entire nation toward His eternal King. Forms and Transliterations וְנֵ֖ר וְנֵ֥ר וְנֵר֙ ונר נֵ֔ר נֵ֖ר נֵ֜ר נֵֽר׃ נֵר֙ נר נר׃ ner nêr veNer wə·nêr wənêrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 14:50 HEB: אֲבִינֵ֔ר בֶּן־ נֵ֖ר דּ֥וֹד שָׁאֽוּל׃ NAS: the son of Ner, Saul's KJV: the son of Ner, Saul's INT: was Abner the son of Ner uncle Saul's 1 Samuel 14:51 1 Samuel 26:5 1 Samuel 26:14 2 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 2:12 2 Samuel 3:23 2 Samuel 3:25 2 Samuel 3:28 2 Samuel 3:37 1 Kings 2:5 1 Kings 2:32 1 Chronicles 8:33 1 Chronicles 9:36 1 Chronicles 9:39 1 Chronicles 26:28 16 Occurrences |
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