946. Bunah

Lexical Summary

Bunah: Bunah

Original Word: בּוּנָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Buwnah
Pronunciation: boo-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (boo-naw')
KJV: Bunah
NASB: Bunah
Word Origin: [from H995 (בִּין - understand)]

1. discretion
2. Bunah, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Bunah

From biyn; discretion; Bunah, an Israelite -- Bunah.

see HEBREW biyn

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from bin
Definition
"intelligence," a man of Judah
NASB Translation
Bunah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בּוּנָה proper name, masculine see בּין.

בּוּנָה proper name, masculine (intelligence = Palmyrene proper name בונא Vog^{No. 3}) a man of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:25.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Bunah is named once, in 1 Chronicles 2:25, among “the sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron: Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah”. His sole mention places him within Judah’s genealogical records.

Genealogical Context

1. Judah → Hezron → Jerahmeel → Bunah.
2. Jerahmeel is Judah’s great-grandson; Bunah belongs to the third generation after Judah’s entry into Egypt.
3. The Jerahmeelite branch is distinct from the Ram-Hezron line that culminates in King David (Ruth 4:18-22), yet it shares Judah’s covenant heritage and land promises.

Historical Setting

The Chronicler compiled post-exilic records to re-establish Israel’s identity. By listing lesser-known descendants such as Bunah, he affirmed that every clan retained a place in the restored community. Jerahmeelites occupied southern Judah near the Negev; David’s forays into their territory (1 Samuel 27:10; 30:29) indicate their continued presence through the monarchy period.

Theological and Prophetic Implications

1. Covenant Continuity. Even obscure names testify that God preserves entire families, not only prominent figures, fulfilling Genesis 49:8-12 concerning Judah.
2. Messianic Backdrop. The breadth of Judah’s genealogy underscores the legitimacy of David’s throne and, ultimately, the Messiah’s legal right (Matthew 1:1-3).
3. Community Identity. Post-exilic readers learned that no segment of God’s people is forgotten, reinforcing Nehemiah’s theme of rebuilding both walls and worship.

Practical Lessons for Ministry

• Value Every Member: Church leaders should recognize and record the contributions of “hidden” believers, reflecting divine concern for minor figures like Bunah.
• Faithfulness Across Generations: Families today draw encouragement from the Chronicler’s meticulous lineage, trusting God’s hand in their own heritage.
• Integrity of Scripture: The inclusion of a single, unembellished name supports the reliability of biblical history, strengthening confidence in all doctrinal teachings.

Related References

1 Chronicles 2; 1 Samuel 27:10; 1 Samuel 30:29; Genesis 49:8-12; Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-3

Forms and Transliterations

וּבוּנָ֥ה ובונה ū·ḇū·nāh ūḇūnāh uvuNah

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 2:25
HEB: הַבְּכ֣וֹר ׀ רָ֑ם וּבוּנָ֥ה וָאֹ֛רֶן וָאֹ֖צֶם
NAS: the firstborn, then Bunah, Oren,
KJV: the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren,
INT: the firstborn Ram Bunah Oren Ozem

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 946
1 Occurrence

ū·ḇū·nāh — 1 Occ.