Understanding Βενιαμ(ε)ίν (Beniamein) Strong’s G958: The Beloved Youngest Son Who Embodies Israel’s Heritage and Messianic Promise

Pronunciation Guide: ben-ee-am-in

Basic Definition

Strong’s G958: Βενιαμ(ε)ίν (Beniamein) refers to Benjamin, the youngest and beloved son of Jacob (Israel) and Rachel. As both a personal name and a tribal designation in Scripture, it represents the tribe that descended from Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the New Testament context, it particularly identifies lineage and heritage within the people of God.

Etymology and Morphology

• Proper noun
• Hebrew origin: בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin)
• Meaning: “son of the right hand” or “son of fortune/prosperity”
• Used primarily in narrative contexts and genealogical references
• Appears in both Old Testament (Septuagint) and New Testament texts
• Indeclinable noun (does not change form in different grammatical cases)

Βενιαμ(ε)ίν Morphology:

• Βενιαμ(ε)ίν – The standard form used across all grammatical cases
• The alternate spelling Βενιαμίν (without the epsilon) appears in some manuscripts
• As an indeclinable proper noun, it maintains the same form regardless of its grammatical function

Origin & History

The Greek Βενιαμ(ε)ίν directly transliterates the Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin), preserving the name’s Hebraic origins. In Genesis, the narrative describes how Rachel named her son Ben-oni (“son of my sorrow”) as she was dying in childbirth, but Jacob renamed him Benjamin (“son of the right hand” or “son of fortune”). The Septuagint consistently transliterates this name as Βενιαμίν or Βενιαμείν, maintaining its Hebrew pronunciation and significance.

In classical Greek literature outside the biblical corpus, the name does not appear, highlighting its exclusively Hebrew heritage. However, the Jewish historian Josephus (in his “Antiquities of the Jews”) references Benjamin extensively when recounting the history of the twelve tribes, using the Hellenized form of the name consistent with the Septuagint tradition.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Benjamin as a person – The literal historical individual, youngest son of Jacob
• Benjamin as a tribe – The collective tribal entity descended from Benjamin
• Benjamin as a territory – The geographical region allotted to the tribe in the promised land
• Benjamin as a lineage marker – Signifying genealogical descent from this tribe

Βενιαμ(ε)ίν Translation Options:

• Benjamin – The standard English transliteration, used in most Bible translations
• Benjamite – When referring to a member of the tribe rather than the individual
• Tribe of Benjamin – When referring specifically to the collective tribal identity
• Land of Benjamin – When referring to the territorial allocation in Canaan
• House of Benjamin – When emphasizing the familial or dynastic aspects of the tribe

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, Βενιαμ(ε)ίν appears only a few times but in theologically significant contexts. Its first appearance in Acts 13:21 connects to Israel’s first king, Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin. Most notably, the Apostle Paul identifies himself as from the tribe of Benjamin to establish his legitimate Israelite heritage. This tribal identification carried significant weight in Jewish culture, especially since Benjamin remained loyal to Judah when the kingdom divided, preserving the Davidic line which ultimately produced the Messiah.

• “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin [Βενιαμ(ε)ίν], for forty years.” Acts 13:21
• “Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they descendants of Benjamin [Βενιαμ(ε)ίν]? So am I.” Romans 11:1
• “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin [Βενιαμ(ε)ίν], a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee.” Philippians 3:5
• “I saw one of the tribes of the sons of Israel, Benjamin [Βενιαμ(ε)ίν], twelve thousand were sealed.” Revelation 7:8

Cultural Insights

Benjamin held a unique position among the twelve tribes of Israel. As the only son of Jacob born in the Promised Land (at Bethlehem), Benjamin represented native inheritance of God’s promises to Israel. The tribe’s territory included Jerusalem, situating them at the spiritual and eventually political center of Israel’s identity. This geographical positioning made Benjamin a bridge between the northern and southern tribes, particularly significant after the kingdom divided.

In rabbinic tradition, Benjamin was considered the only son who did not participate in selling Joseph into slavery, making him symbolically innocent of betraying the family line. This tradition enhanced Benjamin’s status as a symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Furthermore, the tribe of Benjamin produced Israel’s first king (Saul), establishing a precedent for royal leadership, though the kingship would later transfer to Judah through David. These cultural associations made Benjamite lineage particularly prestigious in first-century Judaism, explaining why Paul specifically highlights this aspect of his heritage.

Theological Significance

Benjamin’s theological significance extends beyond mere tribal identity. The name itself—”son of the right hand”—carries messianic overtones, as the right hand symbolizes favor, power, and authority throughout Scripture. Just as Benjamin was the beloved son of his father Jacob, so the Messiah would be the beloved Son of the Heavenly Father, sitting at His right hand in glory.

The tribe of Benjamin’s faithful adherence to the Davidic kingdom foreshadowed the faithful remnant that would recognize and follow the Messiah. When Paul identifies himself as a Benjamite in Philippians 3:5, he establishes not only his Israelite credentials but also connects himself to this tradition of faithfulness. Yet Paul goes further, counting all such heritage as loss compared to knowing Messiah Yeshua, modeling how true Israelite identity finds its fulfillment in the Messiah rather than mere tribal affiliation.

In Revelation 7:8, the inclusion of 12,000 from Benjamin among the sealed servants of God affirms that Yahweh preserves His people through all generations. This eschatological vision shows that tribal identity remains significant in God’s redemptive plan, even as it finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah who unites all believers as one people of God.

Personal Application

When we encounter references to Benjamin in Scripture, we’re reminded that God works through specific families, tribes, and lineages to accomplish His purposes. Just as Paul could trace his spiritual heritage through Benjamin back to Abraham, we too have a spiritual genealogy—a cloud of witnesses whose faith has shaped our own journey with God. Understanding our place in this continuing story helps us appreciate how Yahweh weaves individual lives into His grand narrative of redemption.

Moreover, Benjamin’s position as the beloved youngest son reminds us that God often works through the unexpected, the overlooked, or the least prominent. In your own life, never discount how Yahweh might use what seems small or insignificant to accomplish His purposes. Remember that the Messiah Himself came not with worldly power but in humble circumstances, revealing that true greatness in God’s kingdom often begins in unexpected places.

Related Words

• Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios, ee-oo-DAH-yos) – Jewish, Judean; a broader ethnic and religious identifier that would include Benjamites after the tribal distinctions became less prominent following the exile. See G2453
• Ἰσραήλ (Israēl, is-rah-ALE) – Israel; the collective name for all twelve tribes, including Benjamin, descended from Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. See G2474
• Ἑβραῖος (Hebraios, heb-RAH-yos) – Hebrew; referring to the language and ethnicity of the Jewish people, including Benjamites. See G1445
• φυλή (phylē, foo-LAY) – tribe; the term used to describe each of the twelve divisions of Israel, including the tribe of Benjamin. See G5443
• γένος (genos, GEN-os) – race, family, descendant; a term that could refer to Benjamite ancestry in a broader sense of lineage or descent. See G1085

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the tribe of Benjamin’s territory included Jerusalem, the future capital of Israel? Though Jerusalem is often associated with Judah, the city actually sat on the border between Judah and Benjamin, with most of the city falling within Benjamin’s tribal allotment. This geographical reality made the Benjamites custodians of Israel’s spiritual center, which later housed the Temple, God’s dwelling place among His people.
• Did you know that the Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) shares his name with King Saul, Israel’s first king who also came from the tribe of Benjamin? This namesake connection likely carried significant cultural weight when Paul identified himself as a Benjamite. It connected him to Israel’s royal history while also setting up the contrast between the earthly kingdom Saul represented and the heavenly kingdom Paul proclaimed in Messiah Yeshua.
• Did you know that Benjamin was traditionally portrayed in rabbinic literature as the only one of Jacob’s sons who was born in the Holy Land? This unique distinction made Benjamin a symbol of native inheritance of the promised land. This may partly explain why Paul, when establishing his credentials as a true Israelite in Philippians 3:5, specifically mentions his Benjamite lineage—it represented the purest form of Israelite identity connected directly to the promise.

Remember This

Benjamin stands as a powerful reminder that God preserves a faithful remnant through all generations, working through specific families and tribes to accomplish His redemptive purposes, ultimately finding their fulfillment in the Messiah Yeshua, the true “Son of the Right Hand” who sits at the Father’s right hand in glory.