Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, the concept of the "youngest" often carries significant theological and narrative weight. The youngest child in a family is frequently depicted as a figure of divine favor, unexpected blessing, or pivotal change in the unfolding of God's plan.
Joseph: One of the most prominent examples of the youngest child playing a crucial role is Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of Rachel. Although not the absolute youngest, Joseph is favored by his father, which incites jealousy among his brothers. His account, found in
Genesis 37-50, illustrates how God can use the youngest to fulfill His purposes. Joseph's journey from being sold into slavery to becoming a powerful leader in Egypt demonstrates God's providence and the fulfillment of dreams given to him in his youth.
Benjamin: The youngest son of Jacob, Benjamin, holds a special place in the family narrative. After Joseph's apparent death, Benjamin becomes the new favorite of Jacob. In
Genesis 42-45, Joseph's brothers must bring Benjamin to Egypt to prove their honesty, which tests their integrity and ultimately leads to family reconciliation. Benjamin's role underscores themes of redemption and the restoration of familial bonds.
David: David, the youngest son of Jesse, is another significant biblical figure. In
1 Samuel 16, God instructs Samuel to anoint David as king, despite his being the youngest and least likely candidate in the eyes of his family. David's anointing and subsequent rise to kingship highlight the biblical theme that God often chooses the least expected to accomplish His will. David's life and reign are central to the history of Israel and the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Solomon: Although not the youngest in a traditional sense, Solomon was the youngest surviving son of David and Bathsheba. His ascension to the throne, as recorded in
1 Kings 1-2, was marked by divine favor and the fulfillment of God's promise to David. Solomon's wisdom and the building of the Temple in Jerusalem are pivotal events in Israel's history.
New Testament Context: In the New Testament, the concept of the youngest is less about birth order and more about spiritual humility and receptivity. Jesus emphasizes the importance of becoming like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven (
Matthew 18:3-4: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."). This teaching underscores the value of humility and dependence on God, qualities often associated with the youngest in a family.
Throughout the Bible, the youngest often symbolizes God's unexpected choice and the overturning of human expectations. Whether through the lives of individuals like Joseph, Benjamin, David, and Solomon, or through the teachings of Jesus, the youngest serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan.
Greek
958. Beniamin -- Benjamin, one of the twelve Isr. tribes... Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Beniamin Phonetic Spelling:
(ben-ee-am-een') Short Definition: Benjamin Definition: Benjamin,
youngest son of
...3501b. neos, neoteros -- young, new
... word Definition young, new NASB Word Usage new (10), new self (1), young men (2),
young women (1), younger (6), younger men (2),youngest (1). 3501a, 3501b....
Strong's Hebrew
1144. Binyamin -- "son of (the) right hand,"youngest son of Jacob...... 1143, 1144. Binyamin. 1145 . "son of (the) right hand,"
youngest son
of Jacob, also the name of two other Isr . Transliteration
...6810. tsair -- little, insignificant, young
... Word Usage least (1), least one (1), little (1), little ones (3), servants (1),
small (2), those younger (1), young (1), younger (7),youngest (4),youngest...
6996a. qatan -- small, young, unimportant
... small, young, unimportant NASB Word Usage least (10), little (7), small (13), small
things (1), smaller (1), smallest (1), young (3), younger (9),youngest (3...
6996b. qaton -- small, insignificant
... small, insignificant NASB Word Usage all* (2), brief (1), lesser (1), little (6),
minor (2), small (22), smallest one (1), young (1), younger (3),youngest (14...
1732. David -- perhaps "beloved one," a son of Jesse
... David. Rarely (fully); Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as dowd; loving; David,
theyoungest son of Jesse -- David. see HEBREW dowd. 1731, 1732....
Library
How Joseph, theYoungest of Jacob's Sons, was Envied by his...
... CHAPTER 2. How Joseph, TheYoungest Of Jacob's Sons, Was Envied By His Brethren,
When Certain Dreams Had Foreshown His Future Happiness....
The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
... x., from theyoungest, [Pg 32] Japheth, Ham, Shem,"where, however, in ver.21, the
words added immediately after Shem""the elder brother of Japheth...
The Testing of Joseph's Brothers
... Theyoungest is to-day with our father, and one is dead." Joseph said to them,
"It is just as I said to you, 'You are spies.' By this you shall be tested: as...
The Mystery of the Lost Brother
... with us. The man who rules in that land said to us, 'You shall not see
my face, unless youryoungest brother be with you'.". And...
The Blossoming Desert.
... receive into the fellowship of the Christian Church ten individuals, eight men and
two women, the eldest a widow woman aged sixty-eight, theyoungest a young...
Joseph's Forgiveness of his Brothers
... The boy cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would
die.' Then you said to your servants, 'Unless youryoungest brother comes...
The Story of David
... flocks. That father, whose name was Jesse, was one of the chief men of the
town, and David was theyoungest of all his sons. There...
The Story of Benjamin.
... We are the sons of one man in Canaan, and truly theyoungest is now with
our father, and one other is dead.". Was he still angry?...
Chapter xliv
... his sack. And place my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of
theyoungest as well as the money for his grain. And he...
Joseph --The Savior of his People.
... for his great family. So he sent his ten sons down into Egypt to buy wheat,
keeping Benjamin, theyoungest at home. When they came...
Thesaurus
Youngest (26 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Youngest (26 Occurrences).
... Genesis 9:24 Noah awoke
from his wine, and knew what his
youngest son had done to him.
...Oldest (58 Occurrences)
... Genesis 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded
the house, from theyoungest to the oldest all the people from every...
Segub (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Elevated. (1.) Theyoungest son of Hiel the Bethelite....
(1) Theyoungest son of Hiel, the rebuilder of Jericho (1 Kings 16:34)....
Abiram (9 Occurrences)
... Jericho; (who) shall lay its foundation in his firstborn, and set up its gates in
hisyoungest.' According to this interpretation the death of the builder's...
Eldest (17 Occurrences)
... Genesis 44:12 He searched, beginning with the eldest, and ending at theyoungest....
1 Samuel 17:14 David was theyoungest; and the three eldest followed Saul....
Jesse (45 Occurrences)
... 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, theyoungest of whom
was David (1 Samuel 17:12). The phrase "stem of Jesse" is...
Benjamin (167 Occurrences)
... BENJAMIN. ben'-ja-min (binyamin, or binyamin; Beniaein, Beniamin): 1. The Patriarch:
Theyoungest of Jacob's sons. His mother Rachel died in giving him birth....
Jotham (26 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Jehovah is perfect. (1.) Theyoungest of Gideon's
seventy sons. He escaped when the rest were put to death...
Zebulun (46 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Dwelling, the sixth andyoungest son of Jacob and
Leah (Genesis 30:20). Little is known of his personal history....
Goblet (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Goblet (6 Occurrences). Genesis 44:2 And put my cup, the
silver cup, in the sack's mouth of theyoungest, and his grain money....
Resources
Why did Noah curse Ham / Canaan? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Benjamin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow many brothers did King David have? | GotQuestions.orgYoungest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
