Original Word: בֶּן־יְמִינִי
Part of Speech: Adjective, of a people
Transliteration: Ben-ymiyniy
Pronunciation: ben-yem-ee-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (ben-yem-ee-nee')
KJV: Benjamite, of Benjamin
NASB: Benjamite, Benjamites
Word Origin: [patron from H1144 (בִּניָמִין - Benjamin)]

1. a Benjaminite, or descendent of Benjamin

Benjamite, of Benjamin

Sometimes (with the article inserted) Ben-ha-yminiy {ben-hah-yem-ee-nee'}; with 'iysh inserted (1 Sam. 9:1) Ben-miysh Ymiyniy {ben-eesh' yem-ee-nee'}; son of a man of Jemini; or shortened (1 Sam. 9:4; Esth. 2:5) eiysh Ymiyniy {eesh yem-ee-nee'}; a man of Jemini, or (1 Sam. 20:1) simply Yminiy {yem-ee-nee'}; a Jeminite; (plural Bniy Ymiyniy {ben- ay' yem-ee-nee'}; patron from Binyamiyn; a Benjaminite, or descendent of Benjamin -- Benjamite, of Benjamin.

see HEBREW 'iysh

see HEBREW Binyamiyn

Word Origin
from Binyamin
Definition
a desc. of Benjamin
NASB Translation
Benjamite (5), Benjamites (4).

בֶּןיְֿמִינִי adjective, of a people from בִּנָימִן 1 1 Samuel 9:21; Psalm 7:1; בֶּןהַֿיְמִינִי Judges 3:15; 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Samuel 19:17; 1 Kings 2:8; plural בְּנֵי יְמִינִי 1 Samuel 22:7; Judges 19:16; לַבְּנ֯ יְמִינִי 1 Chronicles 27:12 (Qr לַבֵּן יְמִינִי); = יְמִינִי (q. v.) 1 Samuel 9:4 +.

Meaning and Scope

בֶּן־יְמִינִי designates an individual belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. Its nine appearances mark people whose personal identity, calling, or conduct is inseparably linked to that tribe’s prophetic destiny within Israel.

Old Testament Occurrences

• Judges 3:15 – “Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and He raised up for them a deliverer—Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite …”. Benjamin here supplies the first major judge after Joshua, underscoring the tribe’s early leadership potential.
• Judges 19:16 – A hospitable Benjaminite sojourns in Gibeah, contrasting sharply with the city’s moral collapse and foreshadowing the civil war that almost annihilated the tribe.
• 1 Samuel 9:21 – Saul replies, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel …?”. The Lord’s choice of a king from Benjamin reverses that tribe’s earlier disgrace, showcasing divine grace over human weakness.
• 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Samuel 19:16; 1 Kings 2:8 – Shimei son of Gera, the vocal critic of David, is thrice described as a Benjaminite. His account illustrates the lingering tribal tensions between Benjamin (Saul’s house) and Judah (David’s house).
• 1 Chronicles 27:12 – Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite, commands the ninth-month division of David’s army, revealing ongoing Benjaminite loyalty to Davidic rule.
• Esther 2:5 – Mordecai is introduced as “a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin” whose faithfulness preserves the covenant people in exile, proving Benjamin’s enduring significance beyond the land.
• Psalm 7:1 – The superscription places the psalm “concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.” David’s plea for deliverance shows how inter-tribal conflict became a catalyst for inspired worship.

Tribal Identity and Covenant Context

Jacob’s prophetic blessing on Benjamin—“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey” (Genesis 49:27)—anticipates the tribe’s martial courage. The term בֶּן־יְמִינִי reminds readers that deliverance (Ehud), leadership (Saul), and defense of God’s people (Mordecai) can emerge from unlikely quarters for the fulfillment of covenant promises.

Roles in Israel’s National Story

1. Deliverer: Ehud’s left-handed strategy against Eglon saved Israel from Moabite oppression and demonstrates innovative faith.
2. Kingship: Saul’s rise shows the Lord’s sovereignty in selecting rulers, even from a smaller tribe, while his fall warns against disobedience.
3. Opposition and Reconciliation: Shimei’s cursing and eventual pardon highlight the challenge of forgiving former enemies within God’s people.
4. Military Service: Abiezer’s post in David’s army affirms that Benjaminites served the united monarchy with distinction.
5. Diaspora Preservation: Mordecai’s guardianship of Esther and exposure of Haman’s plot extend Benjamin’s witness into Persia and advance redemptive history.

Spiritual Reflections in the Psalms

Psalm 7 presents David persecuted by a fellow Benjaminite, yet seeking refuge in the Lord: “O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers” (Psalm 7:1). The contrast between human hostility and divine shelter encourages believers to trust God amid internal opposition.

Messianic and Ecclesiological Connections

Benjamin’s account converges on Jesus Christ, the true King who reconciles Judah and Benjamin and all Israel in Himself. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul proudly calls himself “a Benjaminite” (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5), a testimony that God has not rejected His people and that tribal heritage finds its fulfillment in the gospel community.

Practical Ministry Implications

• God delights to raise servants from obscurity; no background is too small for great kingdom impact.
• Past tribal or denominational strife can be healed through forgiveness modeled after David and realized in Christ.
• Faithful hospitality, strategic courage, and intercessory advocacy—exemplified by the Benjaminite figures—remain vital disciplines for contemporary believers.

הַיְמִינִ֔י הַיְמִינִ֗י הַיְמִינִי֮ הימיני יְמִינִ֑י יְמִינִ֤י יְמִינִֽי׃ ימיני ימיני׃ hay·mî·nî haymiNi haymînî yə·mî·nî yemiNi yəmînîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts