Who was Omri in the Bible?

Omri was a descendant of Benjamin, listed in the genealogical records of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:8). He is a different figure from the more famous King Omri of Israel, being a lesser-known individual within the tribe's lineage.

Why is Omri mentioned in the Bible?

Omri is mentioned to establish the genealogical continuity and family lines within the tribe of Benjamin. His inclusion helps document the tribe's history and fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs, as seen in the detailed records of 1 Chronicles.

What is significant about Omri's life?

The biblical record highlights that Omri was a son of Becher and a grandson of Benjamin, indicating his place in the foundational generations of the tribe (1 Chronicles 7:8). While no specific events of his life are recorded, his name preserves an important link in the ancestral chain.

Omri

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon of becher

Omri was a descendant of Benjamin, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe.

Omri

Biography

Omri was a descendant of Benjamin, identified as a son of Becher in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 7:8. Becher was one of Benjamin's sons, and his descendants formed a notable clan within the tribe. The Benjaminite genealogies in Chronicles enumerate Omri among nine sons of Becher, describing the family as heads of their ancestral houses and mighty warriors. According to the census figures, Becher's clan numbered 20,200 fighting men, indicating a substantial and militarily significant family within Benjamin's tribal structure. Omri's listing among these warriors suggests he held a position of some prominence within his clan during the early periods of Israel's tribal organization. Beyond this genealogical reference, no specific narrative events are attributed to this particular Omri.

Significance

Omri son of Becher represents the military strength and organizational vitality of the tribe of Benjamin, one of Israel's smallest yet most formidable tribes. The Benjaminites were renowned as skilled warriors, particularly as left-handed slingers and archers, and Omri's inclusion among the clan's mighty men reinforces this tribal identity. The careful preservation of Benjaminite genealogies, including figures like Omri, served to maintain tribal cohesion and inheritance rights throughout Israel's history. Theologically, the detailed recording of each family within God's covenant people affirms the biblical principle that every household has a place in the community of faith. Benjamin's genealogies would later gain messianic significance as the tribe associated with Israel's first king and the apostle Paul.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 7:8

References

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

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