Lexical Summary
Benayahu or Benayah: Benaiah
Original Word:בְּנָיָה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Bnayah
Pronunciation:beh-nah-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling:(ben-aw-yaw')
KJV: Benaiah
NASB:Benaiah
Word Origin:[fromH1129 (בָּנָה - built) andH3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]
1. Jah has built
2. Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Benaiah
Or (prolonged) Bnayahuw {ben-aw-yaw'-hoo}; frombanah andYahh; Jah has built; Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites -- Benaiah.
see HEBREWbanah
see HEBREWYahh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
banah and
YahDefinition"Yah has built up," the name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationBenaiah (42).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, (
Yah hath built up, compare , Sabean DHM
ZMG 1883, 15) —
,2 Samuel 8:18;2 Samuel 23:20,22;1 Kings 1:8,10,26,32,36,38,44;1 Kings 2:25,29,30 (twice in verse);1 Kings 2:34;1 Kings 2:35;1 Kings 2:46;1 Kings 4:4;1 Chronicles 11:24;1 Chronicles 18:17;1 Chronicles 27:5,6 compare1 Chronicles 27:34 (see Be); =2 Samuel 20:23;1 Chronicles 11:22.
,2 Samuel 23:30 =1 Chronicles 11:31;1 Chronicles 27:14.
,1 Chronicles 4:36.
,
1 Chronicles 15:18,20,24;
(id.) 2 Chronicles 31:13;
2Chronicles 20:14.
,
Ezra 10:25;
Ezra 10:30;
Ezra 10:35;
Ezra 10:43;
Ezekiel 11:13 =Ezekiel 11:1.
Topical Lexicon
Occurrences and Distributionבְּנָיָה (Benaiah) appears about forty-two times across the Old Testament. The name identifies at least twelve distinct men who served in military, priestly, Levitical, and civic roles from the monarchy through the post-exilic period. Though varying in vocation, each reference contributes to a composite picture of courageous, covenant-minded service rendered to the Lord and His people.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada
The most prominent bearer of the name is the son of Jehoiada, a valiant man from Kabzeel (2 Samuel 23:20). Scripture traces his life through the reigns of David and Solomon.
• Heroic deeds. “He struck down two heroes of Moab. On a snowy day, he also went down into a pit and killed a lion” (2 Samuel 23:20). He further “struck down an imposing Egyptian” with the foreigner’s own spear (23:21). These exploits rank him above the “Thirty” yet below the first tier of “The Three” (23:22–23).
• Captain of the bodyguard. As head of the Cherethites and Pelethites (2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23), he safeguarded David’s person and throne. The post demanded both martial expertise and unwavering loyalty as David weathered internal revolts and foreign wars.
• Loyalist at the royal succession. When Adonijah attempted to seize the throne, “Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei, and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah” (1 Kings 1:8). Instead Benaiah sided with the dying king’s expressed will and accompanied Solomon’s anointing at Gihon (1:32-40). His ringing affirmation, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it” (1:36), frames him as a man who submits to divine sovereignty rather than political expediency.
• Instrument of righteous judgment. Under Solomon’s orders he executed Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25), Joab (2:29-34), and Shimei (2:46), purging blood-guilt from the kingdom in fulfillment of David’s final instructions (2:5-9).
• Commander in chief. “The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s place” (1 Kings 2:35). By1 Kings 4:4 he stands among Solomon’s highest officials.
Across these scenes Benaiah models courage, moral clarity, and covenant faithfulness that help secure Israel’s united monarchy.
Other Military Figures Named Benaiah
1. Benaiah the Pirathonite—listed among the Thirty (2 Samuel 23:30;1 Chronicles 11:31).
2. Benaiah the Netophathite—son of Jeiel, another of the Thirty (1 Chronicles 11:30).
3. Benaiah of the Ephraimites—over the third division of David’s rotating army, commanding twenty-four thousand men during the third month (1 Chronicles 27:5-6).
These men display the breadth of loyal warriors beyond the famous son of Jehoiada, underscoring that valor was not monopolized by a single tribe or pedigree.
Levitical Musicians and Gatekeepers
A separate Benaiah (or possibly more than one) appears repeatedly in the liturgical reforms associated with the Ark’s relocation and the establishment of temple worship:
• Listed among the Levites appointed to play instruments of “triangled harps tuned to Alamoth” (1 Chronicles 15:20).
• Stands with priests sounding trumpets before the Ark (15:24; 16:6).
• Named with Asaph, Zechariah, and others who minister “regularly before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD” (16:5, 37).
His service highlights the union of musical excellence and priestly responsibility, pointing to the holistic worship God desires—combining skilled artistry with sanctified hearts.
Priests and Spiritual Leaders
1. Benaiah, leader of the house of Jehoiarib, signs Nehemiah’s covenant of national repentance (Nehemiah 10:13).
2. A Benaiah is counted among the Levites who explained the Law to the assembled remnant (Nehemiah 8:7).
3. Jahaziel the prophet is introduced as “son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah” (2 Chronicles 20:14), rooting later prophetic ministry in this lineage.
These occurrences portray Benaiah-descended priests as teachers and guardians of spiritual fidelity during times of reform.
Post-Exilic Disciplinary Lists
Three separate clans include men named Benaiah who had married foreign wives contrary to the Law and were required to put them away (Ezra 10:25, 30, 43). Their presence in a public register of repentance illustrates both the pervasiveness of the name and the seriousness with which covenant transgression was addressed after the exile.
Theological and Practical Lessons
1. Courage tempered by obedience. The son of Jehoiada’s fearlessness is repeatedly presented in tandem with submission to divine and royal authority, showing that true bravery serves righteous ends.
2. The sanctity of worship. Levitical Benaiahs emphasize preparation and holiness in approaching God—disciplining music, ritual, and life alike.
3. Accountability within leadership. Whether wielding the sword or the cymbal, each Benaiah stands under covenant obligation; when that obligation is violated (Ezra 10), repentance is demanded.
4. Continuity of godly heritage. Jahaziel’s prophetic insight during Jehoshaphat’s crisis (2 Chronicles 20:14-17) emerges from a lineage that includes Benaiah, weaving faithfulness across generations.
Christological Foreshadowing
Benaiah son of Jehoiada—warrior who descends into a pit to slay a lion “on a snowy day”—anticipates the Messiah who would descend into death to defeat “the lion that roars” (1 Peter 5:8) and rise triumphant. Likewise, his role in cleansing the kingdom parallels the greater Son of David who will ultimately purge wickedness and reign in perfect justice (Revelation 19:11-16).
Summary
The many men named בְּנָיָה sketch a portrait of steadfast service in the army, the sanctuary, and the community. Whether defending Israel’s throne, leading worship, teaching the Law, or correcting national sin, each occurrence reinforces the biblical conviction that the Lord builds (root of the name: “Yah builds”) His people through courageous, obedient servants.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֠נָיָה בְּנָיָ֖ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בְּנָיָ֣הוּ בְּנָיָ֤ה בְּנָיָ֤הוּ בְּנָיָ֥ה בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בְּנָיָ֨ה בְּנָיָֽה׃ בְנָיָ֛הוּ בְנָיָ֜הוּ בניה בניה׃ בניהו וְלִבְנָיָ֖הוּ וְלִבְנָיָ֧הוּ וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ וּבְנָיָ֜הוּ וּבְנָיָ֡הוּ וּבְנָיָ֣הוּ וּבְנָיָ֤הוּ וּבְנָיָ֥הוּ וּבְנָיָ֨הוּ וּבְנָיָֽה׃ וּבְנָיָה֙ וּבְנָיָהוּ֩ ובניה ובניה׃ ובניהו ולבניהו bə·nā·yā·hū ḇə·nā·yā·hū bə·nā·yāh benaYah bənāyāh benaYahu bənāyāhū ḇənāyāhū ū·ḇə·nā·yā·hū ū·ḇə·nā·yāh ūḇənāyāh ūḇənāyāhū uvenaYah uvenaYahu velivnaYahu venaYahu wə·liḇ·nā·yā·hū wəliḇnāyāhū
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