Who was Zabdi in the Bible?

Zabdi was a Benjamite, the son of Shimei (also called Shimhi), and is listed in the genealogy of King Saul's family (1 Chronicles 8:19-21). His mention primarily serves to establish the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin leading up to Israel's first king.

Why is Zabdi mentioned in the Bible?

Zabdi's significance is entirely genealogical; he is listed to document the family line of the tribe of Benjamin from which King Saul descended. His inclusion helps trace the historical and tribal roots of Israel's monarchy in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 8).

Are there any stories about Zabdi in the Bible?

No, there are no narratives or key events recorded about Zabdi's life. The Bible only mentions his name in a genealogical list within the lineage of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:19-21), with no further details about his actions or significance.

Zabdi

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Zabdi was a son of Shimei (or 'Shimhi'), a Benjamite, mentioned in the genealogy of King Saul.

Zabdi

Biography

Zabdi son of Shimei (or Shimhi) appears in 1 Chronicles 8:19 within the Benjamite genealogy connected to the lineage of King Saul. He was a son of Shimei, one of the heads of the Benjamite families who settled in Jerusalem. The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8 is notable for its detail about Benjamite family structures and its culmination in the line of Saul, Israel's first king. Zabdi occupies a modest position within this extended family record, identified only by his father and his tribal affiliation, with no narrative events attached to his name. His inclusion in the genealogical list reflects the Chronicler's interest in establishing the full scope of Benjamite lineages, particularly those connected to the royal house of Saul.

Significance

Zabdi's presence in the Benjamite-Saulide genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:19) contributes to the Chronicler's broader portrait of Israel's tribal structure and the ancestry of its first royal dynasty. The preservation of such detailed genealogical records reflects the theological conviction that God's covenant history runs through specific families and that each individual within those families is part of a divinely ordered story. Zabdi's inclusion reminds readers that not all who belong to significant lineages play dramatic roles, yet their names are preserved, affirming that ordinary membership in God's covenant people carries its own dignity and purpose.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:19

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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