Early Access: Sign up to unlock all Pro features free through the end of 2026.
Biblexika

Benjamin

Both TestamentsPatriarchsMaleSon

Benjamin, initially named Ben-oni by his mother Rachel, was the youngest son of Jacob.

Benjamin illustration
Benjamin

Biography

Benjamin was the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob and his beloved wife Rachel, born during the family's return journey to Canaan (Genesis 35:16–18). Rachel, dying in childbirth, named him Ben-oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," but Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand", a name of honor and strength. He became the last of the twelve sons who would form the tribes of Israel. Because of his youth and his connection to the deceased Rachel, Jacob held him in special affection, making him the focus of the emotionally charged encounter with Joseph in Egypt. Benjamin's tribe would later produce King Saul, and the apostle Paul claimed Benjamite lineage (Philippians 3:5).

Significance

Benjamin stands at the intersection of grief and hope within the patriarchal narratives. His very name embodies transformation, from sorrow to honor, mirroring Israel's broader story of suffering giving way to redemption. As the youngest and most protected of Jacob's sons, Benjamin becomes the catalyst for Joseph's self-revelation and the family's reconciliation in Egypt (Genesis 44–45). His tribe, though small, produced Israel's first king, Saul, and the apostle Paul, linking the Old and New Testaments. Benjamin's story teaches that those deemed least significant by human reckoning often occupy pivotal roles in God's redemptive plan.

Authority Records
FatherJacobMotherRachelChildBelaChildArdChildNaamanChildAshbelChildBecherChildEhiChildGeraChildHuppimChildMuppimChildRoshSiblingGadSiblingDinahSiblingJosephSiblingLeviSiblingJudahSiblingDanSiblingZebulunSiblingReubenSiblingIssacharSiblingNaphtaliSiblingSimeonSiblingAsher

Verse Appearances (166)

Revelation

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources