Greek word · G958

Βενιαμίν

beniamin

Benjamin

“The tribe of Benjamin.” Benjamin was Jacob’s youngest son and Rachel’s second, the only one born in the land. The tribe gave Israel its first king, Saul. It stayed with Judah when the northern tribes broke away, and Jerusalem lay on its border (Joshua 18:16, 28).

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Βενιαμίν, (Rec. -μίν), ὁ, indecl. (Heb. בֶּנְיָמִין),

Benjamin: Acts 13:21, Romans 11:1, Philippians 3:5, Revelation 7:8.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Romans 11:1

Range of meaning

“The tribe of Benjamin.” Benjamin was Jacob’s youngest son and Rachel’s second, the only one born in the land. The tribe gave Israel its first king, Saul. It stayed with Judah when the northern tribes broke away, and Jerusalem lay on its border (Joshua 18:16, 28). Mordecai of the book of Esther was a Benjamite.

Against the English

Translations agree. What is lost is why naming the tribe mattered: in Paul’s day few Jews could still name their tribe with confidence, so doing so was a mark of standing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Philippians 3:5 (“of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews”). Acts 13:21 mentions “Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,” and Paul’s own Hebrew name was Saul (Acts 13:9). In Judges 19–21 Benjamin was nearly wiped out yet preserved as a remnant, which some interpreters see as a quiet echo here, though the text does not draw it.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 13:21 Βενιαμίν, of Benjamin,

    Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.

    Here: The smallest tribe (1 Sam 9:21), and Paul's own (Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5). Saul was the most famous Benjaminite, which probably explains why Paul carried his name.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 11:1 Βενιαμίν. of Benjamin.

    I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

    Here: The tribe of King Saul, Paul’s namesake. Benjamin stayed loyal with Judah, and Jerusalem sat on its border. It was a proud and respected lineage (compare Philippians 3:5).

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 3:5 Βενιαμίν, of Benjamin,

    circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

    Here: An honoured tribe. It produced King Saul, whose name Paul carried. It stayed loyal to Judah and the house of David, and Jerusalem lay within its territory.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 7:8 Βενιαμὶν of Benjamin

    from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.