Who was Binea in the bible?v
Binea (also spelled Binah) is an Israelite named in genealogies in 1 Chronicles 8:37 and 1 Chronicles 9:43.
Family Line
The genealogy continues: “Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son” (1 Chronicles 8:37). A parallel list reads, “Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son” (1 Chronicles 9:43).
Learn More →Name Notes
The lexicon identifies him as “Bina or Binah, an Israelite,” and says the name’s derivation is uncertain. Scripture presents him under the spelling “Binea” (1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43).
Learn More →Binea (also glossed as Bina or Binah) is presented as an Israelite mentioned in genealogical lists, identified as the son of Moza. The name’s derivation is uncertain in the lexicon information provided.
Binea in Scripture
Binea appears twice in 1 Chronicles in parallel genealogical contexts that trace a line of descent through Micah, Ahaz, Zimri, and Moza, and then continue beyond Binea to later descendants.
In the first listing, the genealogy is introduced with Micah and then moves forward step by step until Binea is named:
“The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.” (1 Chronicles 8:35)
“Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.” (1 Chronicles 8:36)
Within this line, Binea is explicitly stated to be Moza’s son, and the genealogy continues through a succession of named descendants:
“Moza became the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.” (1 Chronicles 8:37)
Immediately following, the text supplies further detail about Azel’s household:
“Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.” (1 Chronicles 8:38)
In the same chapter’s surrounding material, the genealogy continues with another branch related in the narrative flow:
“The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.” (1 Chronicles 8:39)
“The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.” (1 Chronicles 8:40)
While Binea is not mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:39–40, these verses provide the setting for the broader genealogical material in which his name occurs, concluding with the statement that “All these were of the sons of Benjamin” (1 Chronicles 8:40).
Binea’s second appearance is in a closely corresponding genealogy in 1 Chronicles 9, again moving from Micah to Ahaz, then to Zimri and Moza, and then naming Binea as Moza’s son:
“The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.” (1 Chronicles 9:41)
“Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.” (1 Chronicles 9:42)
“Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.” (1 Chronicles 9:43)
As in 1 Chronicles 8, the genealogy continues immediately with Azel’s sons listed by name:
“Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.” (1 Chronicles 9:44)
Across the two passages, Binea’s place is stable: he is the son of Moza in a genealogical sequence that continues through “Eleasah” and “Azel” to Azel’s six sons. The two accounts are notably similar, though the son named after Binea differs in spelling between the two lines: “Raphah” in 1 Chronicles 8:37 and “Rephaiah” in 1 Chronicles 9:43.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as בִּנְעָא, transliterated Bin’a’, and pronounced bin-aw’. According to the lexicon information provided, it may also appear as בִּנְעָה, and its derivation is uncertain; the identity gloss describes Bina or Binah as an Israelite.
Observation
In both of Binea’s biblical mentions, he is defined by his location in a genealogical line—“Moza became the father of Binea” (1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43)—and the text’s interest lies in preserving the sequence of descent that follows him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Binea mean?
Binea (also spelled Binah) is identified as an Israelite.
How many times does Binea appear in the Bible?
Binea appears 2 times.
Who was Binea?
Binea was an Israelite mentioned in genealogies, where he is listed as the son of Moza (1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43).
Where is Binea placed in the genealogy in 1 Chronicles?
In both lists, Moza is the father of Binea, and Binea is followed by Rephaiah (or Raphah), then Eleasah, then Azel (1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Binea 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).
