Illustration created for this project.
Benaiah
A mighty warrior who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, captain of David's bodyguard and later Solomon's army commander.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Name & titles
ScholarlyBenaiah (Hebrew Benayahu) is a theophoric name meaning "Yahweh has built," combining the verb banah with the divine name. It is a common Iron Age Hebrew name-type that appears on numerous seals and bullae, though no known artifact can be tied specifically to David and Solomon's commander.
Onomastic: Benayahu = banah ("to build") + Yahu; the name-type is well attested in Iron Age Hebrew epigraphy, but no inscription names this individual.