בַּעֲנָה
Baanah, the name of four Israelites
Definition
Baanah is a proper name borne by four distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The most prominent is Baanah son of Rimmon, one of the captains of Ishbosheth's army who treacherously murdered their king (2 Samuel 4:2-9). Another is Baanah the Netophathite, one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:29, 1 Chronicles 11:30). The name also appears in the lists of returning exiles (Ezra 2:2, Nehemiah 7:7), referring to a leader of the people. In each case, the name identifies a specific Israelite, with the narrative context providing the only distinction between the individuals.
Biblical Usage
The name Baanah is used exclusively as a proper noun for male Israelites. It appears in historical narratives, primarily in 2 Samuel where it is central to the story of Ishbosheth's assassination (2 Samuel 4:2-9). It also occurs in the lists of David's warriors (2 Samuel 23:29, 1 Chronicles 11:30) and in the post-exilic census records (Ezra 2:2, Nehemiah 7:7). There is no pattern of usage beyond identifying specific individuals within genealogical or historical contexts.
Etymology
The name Baanah (בַּעֲנָה) derives from the Hebrew root עָנָה (ʿānâ, H6031), meaning 'to answer,' 'to be afflicted,' or 'to be occupied with.' It is constructed with a prepositional prefix בּ (ba-), meaning 'in' or 'with.' Thus, the name likely signifies 'in affliction,' 'in answer,' or 'in occupation/humility,' reflecting a state of prayer, suffering, or service. It is related to names like Anaiah (עֲנָיָה).
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, the actions of the most famous bearer, Baanah son of Rimmon, provide a stark theological lesson. His murder of Ishbosheth, a rival king to David, represents a human attempt to force God's anointed timeline through treachery and violence, which David strongly condemns (2 Samuel 4:9-12). This story underscores the biblical theme that evil means cannot justify seemingly good ends and that God vindicates His chosen leaders in His own way and time.
As a personal name meaning 'in affliction' or 'in answer,' Baanah reflects a common Hebrew naming convention where children were given names that commemorated circumstances of birth, divine attributes, or parental prayers. The existence of multiple individuals with this name highlights its acceptability. The narrative around Baanah the assassin also provides cultural insight into the volatile politics of the early monarchy and the severe consequences for regicide.
Anaiah (עֲנָיָה, H6043) — A similar name derived from the same root (ענה), meaning 'Yahweh has answered.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →