Who was Beninu in the bible?
Beninu is named as an Israelite in Nehemiah 10:13, listed among those recorded there.
Where Mentioned
Beninu occurs once in the World English Bible, in Nehemiah 10:13. The surrounding list includes “Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,” (Nehemiah 10:11) and continues with other names (Nehemiah 10:12-16).
Learn More →Name Meaning
Strong’s derives the name from a term for “son” with a pronominal suffix, giving the sense “our son.” The Hebrew form is בְּנִינוּ (Beniynuw).
Learn More →Beninu is named once as an Israelite in the book of Nehemiah, appearing as part of a list of individuals associated with a covenant-related context. The name is understood (from a lexicon gloss and derivation) to mean “our son.”
Beninu in Scripture
Beninu’s sole appearance occurs in a sequence of names in Nehemiah 10. In the immediate flow of the passage, Beninu is listed among others without further description or action attached to his name.
“Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,” (Nehemiah 10:11, WEB)
“Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,” (Nehemiah 10:12, WEB)
“Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.” (Nehemiah 10:13, WEB)
The surrounding context continues with additional names, broadening from a brief list into a heading that identifies a group as leaders among the people, followed by more individuals. Beninu’s mention sits within this larger register.
“The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,” (Nehemiah 10:14, WEB)
“Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,” (Nehemiah 10:15, WEB)
“Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,” (Nehemiah 10:16, WEB)
Taken together, the passage presents Beninu as one named within a formal listing that moves through multiple individuals and then explicitly introduces “The chiefs of the people.” The text itself provides no biographical detail beyond Beninu’s inclusion in this list and his placement between “Bani” and the ensuing section that continues naming leaders and others.
Name and Meaning
The name appears in Hebrew as בְּנִינוּ, transliterated Beniynuw and pronounced ben-ee-noo’. According to the lexicon derivation, it is probably formed from a term meaning “a son” (ben, בֵּן) together with a pronominal element, yielding the sense “our son,” with “son” understood in the ordinary sense of a male child and heir within a family line.
Observation
Nehemiah 10:13 preserves Beninu’s name simply by listing him among others—“Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu”—placing him within a wider set of named Israelites in the chapter’s public record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Beninu mean?
The name Beninu means “our son.”
How many times does Beninu appear in the Bible?
Beninu appears 1 time.
Who was Beninu?
Beninu is identified as an Israelite.
Where is Beninu mentioned?
Beninu is mentioned in Nehemiah 10:13: “Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.”
Explore Further
If you found this page about Beninu interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
