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1 Chronicles 9:39 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְנֵר֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ קִ֔ישׁ וְקִ֖ישׁ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֗וּל הוֹלִ֤יד אֶת־ יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ וְאֶת־ מַלְכִּי־ שׁ֔וּעַ וְאֶת־ אֲבִינָדָ֖ב וְאֶת־ אֶשְׁבָּֽעַל׃

BSANerNêr [an Israelite man, the father of several notable figures] was the father ofyâlad KishQîysh [a Benjamite, ancestor of Mordecai] KishQîysh [a prominent Israelite] was the father ofyâlad SaulShâʼûwl [Shaul, meaning desired, a Benjamite king] and SaulShâʼûwl [the first king of Israel] was the father ofyâlad JonathanYᵉhôwnâthân [Jehonathan, meaning Jehovah has given] MalchishuaMalkîyshûwaʻ [my king is wealth, a son of Saul] AbinadabʼĂbîynâdâb [a brother of King David, meaning father of generosity] and Esh-baalʼEshbaʻal

Word
Listen & take away1 Chronicles 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 39 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('esh.Ba.'al) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Chronicles 9:39quick helps
In a sentenceNer is identified as the father of Kish, who is the father of Saul, and Saul is the father of several notable sons.
Who is speakingThe chronicler, recounting genealogical details.
Where we areThe genealogy of Saul, the first king of Israel.
The hard wordהוֹלִ֣יד
Take awayThis verse outlines the lineage leading to key figures in Israel's history.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause subjectנֵר verbיָלַד The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Chronicles 9:39

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Genealogy of Saulgenerated

38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.
39Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
40The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

1 Chronicles 9:39 presents a genealogy tracing back to Ner, the father of Kish, who fathered Saul. This lineage is significant as it establishes the ancestry of Saul, the first king of Israel, and his sons, including Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. Understanding these connections helps clarify the historical context of Israel's monarchy and the relationships among its leaders.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Chronicles 8:33Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
21 Samuel 14:50–51His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
31 Chronicles 10:2The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
41 Samuel 13:22So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hands of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.
51 Samuel 14:1–49One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הוֹלִ֣יד, ho.Lidgenerated

The verb יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear or beget, emphasizing the act of giving birth or fathering children. In this verse, it is used in the Hiphil stem, indicating that Ner, Kish, and Saul each fathered the next generation.

The parsing as a perfect third person masculine singular verb indicates completed action, showing that each father mentioned has already had children. This word is foundational in genealogies, marking lineage and succession.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הוֹלִ֣יד governs the genealogy, with each clause following it revealing the relationships: Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered his sons. The structure emphasizes the succession of father to son.

Each noun phrase identifies the subject or object of the verb, creating a clear lineage. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the fathers, establishing their significance in the narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses ἐγέννησεν for הוֹלִ֣יד, which translates as 'he fathered.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may reflect a broader interpretation of the act of fathering.

This translation choice indicates a focus on the generative aspect of the relationships, consistent with the genealogical context of the passage.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Chronicles 9:39 tells us that Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. This verse outlines the lineage of Saul and his notable sons, establishing their roles in Israel's history.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who was Ner?

Ner was an Israelite man and the father of Kish, who is an important figure in the lineage of King Saul.

What does the name Kish mean?

The name Kish means 'bent' and is associated with several individuals in the Bible, including the father of Saul.

Why is Saul significant?

Saul was the first king of Israel, marking the beginning of the monarchy in Israel's history.

What does Esh-baal's name mean?

Esh-baal means 'man of Baal' and he is also known as Ishbosheth, a son of Saul.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding the genealogy of Saul help us grasp the history of Israel's monarchy?
  2. What significance do the names in this genealogy hold for the narrative of Israel's kings?
  3. In what ways can we see the impact of lineage and ancestry in our own lives or communities?
  4. What lessons can we draw from the relationships between these key figures in Israel's history?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 9:39 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. Kish begat Saul.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(35-44) A duplicate of 1 Chronicles 8:29-38. The genealogy of Saul seems to be repeated, according to the chronicler’s habit (comp. 1 Chronicles 6:4 et seq. with 1 Chronicles 6:50 et seq.; 1 Chronicles 7:6 et seq. with 1 Chronicles 8:1 et seq.), as a transition or introduction to something else, viz., the account of that king’s final ruin in 1 Chronicles 10. The present list is identical with the former, so far as it extends (1 Chronicles 8:39-40 is wanting here), but is, on the whole, in better preservation, supplying, as we have seen, several omissions in the other copy. Only the name of Ahaz has fallen out (1 Chronicles 9:41). The correspondence of the two lists appears to be too exact…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

39–44 (= 1 Chronicles 8:33-38). The Genealogy of the House of Saul For notes see on 1 Chronicles 8:33 ff.

Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

35-44. This register is substantially identical with that of 1 Chronicles 8:29-38, and is repeated here to form a transition to the account of Saul’s death, which the writer inserts, in chap.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Chronicles 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Ner begate Kish, and Kish begate Saul, and Saul begate Ionathan and Malchishua, and Abinadab and Eshbaal.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-Shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Ner begot Kish, and Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-Shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-Ba‘al.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jehonathan, and Malki-shua', and Abinadab, and Eshba'al.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Now Ner beget Cia: and Cis begot Saul: and Saul beget Jonathan and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Ner was the father of Kish; and Kish was the father of Saul; and Saul was the father of Jonathan and Malchi-shua and Abinadab and Eshbaal.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclausesubjectנֵר֙Nerverbהוֹלִ֣ידhe.fatherednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)קִ֔ישׁKishוְandclausesubjectקִ֖ישׁKishverbהוֹלִ֣ידhe.fatherednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)שָׁא֑וּלSaulוְandclausesubjectשָׁא֗וּלSaulverbהוֹלִ֤ידhe.fatherednoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֶת(et)יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙Jonathanוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)וְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)אֲבִינָדָ֖בAbinadabוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)אֶשְׁבָּֽעַלEshbaal

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in the genealogy presented in this verse. While the Septuagint matches 13 of the 19 words, its word order and phrasing differ from the Hebrew text.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְנֵר֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ קִ֔ישׁ וְקִ֖ישׁ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֗וּל הוֹלִ֤יד אֶת־ יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ וְאֶת־ מַלְכִּי־ שׁ֔וּעַ וְאֶת־ אֲבִינָדָ֖ב וְאֶת־ אֶשְׁבָּֽעַל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְנֵר֙νηρהוֹלִ֣ידἐγέννησενקִ֔ישׁκιςוְקִ֖ישׁκιςהוֹלִ֣ידἐγέννησενשָׁא֑וּלσαουλוְשָׁא֗וּלσαουλהוֹלִ֤ידἐγέννησενיְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ιωναθανוְאֶת־καὶוְאֶת־καὶאֲבִינָדָ֖בαμιναδαβוְאֶת־καὶ

13 of the 19 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Chronicles 9:39נֵרand Nerand Nerנֵריָלַדhe fatheredhe fatheredיָלַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתקִישׁKishKishקִישׁקִישׁand Kishand Kishקִישׁיָלַדhe fatheredhe fatheredיָלַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתשָׁאוּלSaulSaulשָׁאוּלשָׁאוּלand Sauland Saulשָׁאוּליָלַדhe fatheredhe fatheredיָלַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתיְהוֹנָתָןJonathanJonathanיְהוֹנָתָןאֵתand the objand the object אֵתמַלְכִּישׁוּעַMalki-Malki-מַלְכִּישׁוּעַמַלְכִּישׁוּעַShuaShuaמַלְכִּישׁוּעַאֵתand the objand the object אֵתאֲבִינָדָבAbinadabAbinadabאֲבִינָדָבאֵתand the objand the object אֵתאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתEshbaalEshbaalאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתקוּשׁto lureto lureקוּשׁמֶ֫לֶךְKing'sKing'sמֶ֫לֶךְשָׁאַלto askto askשָׁאַליהוהThe LordThe Lordיהוהאָבfatherfatherאָבאִישׁmanmanאִישׁנֵרlamplampנֵרמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁשֶׁ֫לַחShelahShelahשֶׁ֫לַחהָרָהto conceivto conceiveהָרָהנֵרNerNerנֵראִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתIsh-boshetIsh-boshethאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתיְהוֹנָתָןJonathanJonathanיְהוֹנָתָןמַלְכִּישׁוּעַמַלְכִּישׁוּעַאֲבִינָדָבAbinadabAbinadabאֲבִינָדָבצוּרZurZurצוּרקִישׁKishKishקִישׁ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Chronicles 9:39

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְנֵר֙ve.Ner and Ner H5369 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ner was an Israelite man who lived during the time of the United Monarchy. He is mentioned in the Bible as the father of several sons, including Kish, and is an ancestor of King Saul. Ner is also known as Jeiel in some parts of the Bible.
Amplified meaning
an Israelite man, the father of several notable figures
Tyndale gloss
Ner
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֵר (*ner*) primarily refers to a personal name, specifically a man from the tribe of Benjamin, known as the father of Abner and Kish, and mentioned in 1 Samuel. The word also means 'lamp.' The entries note that Ner is possibly the same individual in different contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵר n.pr.m.

father of Abner

father of Kish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5369 נֵר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5369 Ner nare

the same as 5216; lamp; Ner, an Israelite:--Ner.

see HEBREW for 05216

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵר (ner) — Ner.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.50;

son of: Abiel (H0022) and Maacah (H4601N);

brother of: Kish (H7027), Abdon (H5658J), Zur (H6698I), Baal (H1168B), Nadab (H5070J), Gedor (H1446I), Ahio (H0283I), Zecher (H2144) and Mikloth (H4732);

father of: Abner (H0074)

§ Ner = "lamp"

1) son of Jehiel, father of Kish, and grandfather of king Saul

2) father of Abner, the uncle of Saul

2a) perhaps the same as 1

נֵר (ner) — Ner.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);

father of: Kish (H7027), Ner (H5369), Abdon (H5658J), Zur (H6698I), Baal (H1168B), Nadab (H5070J), Gedor (H1446I), Ahio (H0283I), Zecher (H2144) and Mikloth (H4732); also called Jeiel (Ketiv: Jeuel; KJV: Jehiel) at 1Ch.9.35; Ner at 1Ch.8.33; 9.39;

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ner (ner, "lamp"): Father of Abner (1Sa 14:50 f; 26:5,14, etc.); grandfather of Saul (1Ch 8:33). Other references, though adding no further information are 2Sa 2:8,12; 3:23,25; 28; 37; 1Ki 2:5,32, etc.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ner

Light, the father of Kish (1 Chr. 8:33). 1 Sam. 14:51 should be read, “Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel.” And hence this Kish and Ner were brothers, and Saul and Abner were first cousins (comp. 1 Chr. 9:36).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a light or lamp), son of Jehiel, according to (1 Chronicles 8:33) father of Abner, and grandfather of King Saul. (B.C. 1140.) Abner was, therefore, uncle to Saul, as is expressly stated in (1 Samuel 14:50)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

a lamp; new-tilled land

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
הוֹלִ֣ידho.Lid he fathered H3205 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
496× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
to beget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget

Qal

bear, bring forth

less often beget

of both parents

Niph. be born

Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

Pu. be born

Hiph.

beget (a father a child)

bear

Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday

Hithp. declared their pedigree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth

. less often beget

. of both parents

. be born

. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

. be born

. . beget (a father a child)

. bear

. day of one's being born = birthday

. declared their pedigree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3205 yalad yaw-lad'

a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;

medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show

lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring

forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be

delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,

labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be

the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.

1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bear, bring forth

1a1a) of child birth

1a1b) of distress (simile)

1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)

1a2) to beget

1b) (Niphal) to be born

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cause or help to bring forth

1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife

1c3) midwife (participle)

1d) (Pual) to be born

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to beget (a child)

1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)

1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)

1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
קִ֔ישׁKish Kish H7027 Noun proper masculine
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Kish was the name of several Israelites, including the father of king Saul and an ancestor of Mordecai. The name Kish means bent and is mentioned in Esther 2:5 and other biblical books. Kish was a common name in biblical times.
Amplified meaning
a Benjamite, ancestor of Mordecai
Tyndale gloss
Kish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִישׁ (qiysh) refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily a Benjamite who was the father of King Saul. The name is derived from the root meaning 'bent.' It also identifies Levites from the Merari family and includes references to ancestors of Mordecai. The entries note various family connections and historical contexts, with mentions in 1 Samuel, Chronicles, and Esther.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִישׁ n.pr.m.

father of Saul

Levites

ancestor of Mordecai

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7027 קִישׁ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7027 Qiysh keesh

from 6983; a bow; Kish, the name of five

Israelites:--Kish.

see HEBREW for 06983

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִישׁ (qish) — Kish.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Abiel (H0022) and Maacah (H4601N);

brother of: Ner (H5369), Abdon (H5658J), Zur (H6698I), Baal (H1168B), Nadab (H5070J), Gedor (H1446I), Ahio (H0283I), Zecher (H2144) and Mikloth (H4732);

father of: Saul (H7586G)

Also named: Kis (Κίς "Kish" G2797)

§ Kish = "bent"

1) a Benjamite of the family of Matri, father of king Saul

2) an ancestor of Mordecai

3) son of Gibeon and brother of Abdon, Zur, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth; uncle of Kish the father of king Saul

4) a Merarite Levite, son of Mahli and grandson of Merari the progenitor of the family

5) a Merarite Levite, son of Abdi in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah

קִישׁ (qish) — Kish.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.23.21;

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kish (qish; Kis, Keis, "bow," "power"): The name of five persons mentioned in the Bible:

(1) The son of Abiel and the father of Saul, the first king of Israel. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, of the family of the Matrites (1Sa 9:1; 14:51; compare Ac 13:21; 1Sa 10:21). According to 1Ch 8:33 and 9:39, "Ner begat Kish" By reading "Ner begat Abner" (compare 1Sa 14:51; 1Ch 6:28), the difficulty is at least partly overcome. In 1Ch 12:1, Kish is also mentioned as the father of Saul, and again in

Kish

A bow. (1.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 23:21; 24:29).

(2.) A Benjamite of Jerusalem (1 Chr. 8:30; 9:36).

(3.) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29:12).

(4.) The great-grandfather of Mordecai (Esther 2:5).

(5.) A Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and father of king Saul (1 Sam. 9:1, 3; 10:11, 21; 14:51; 2 Sam. 21:14). All that is recorded of him is that he sent his son Saul in search of his asses that had strayed, and that he was buried in Zelah. Called Cis, Acts 13:21 (R.V., Kish).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a bow). The father of Saul; a Benjamite of the family of Matri. (B.C. 1095.) Son of Jehiel and uncle to the preceding. (1 Chronicles 9:36) A Benjamite, great-grandfather of Mordecai. (Esther 2:5) A Merarite of the house of Mahli, of the tribe of Levi. (1 Chronicles 23:21,22; 24:28,29)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

hard; difficult; straw; for age

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְקִ֖ישׁve.Kish and Kish H7027 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Kish was the name of several Israelites, including the father of king Saul and an ancestor of Mordecai. The name Kish means bent and is mentioned in Esther 2:5 and other biblical books. Kish was a common name in biblical times.
Amplified meaning
a prominent Israelite
Tyndale gloss
Kish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִישׁ (qiysh) refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily a Benjamite who was the father of King Saul. The name is derived from the root meaning 'bent.' It also identifies Levites from the Merari family and includes references to ancestors of Mordecai. The entries note various family connections and historical contexts, with mentions in 1 Samuel, Chronicles, and Esther.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִישׁ n.pr.m.

father of Saul

Levites

ancestor of Mordecai

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7027 קִישׁ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7027 Qiysh keesh

from 6983; a bow; Kish, the name of five

Israelites:--Kish.

see HEBREW for 06983

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִישׁ (qish) — Kish.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Abiel (H0022) and Maacah (H4601N);

brother of: Ner (H5369), Abdon (H5658J), Zur (H6698I), Baal (H1168B), Nadab (H5070J), Gedor (H1446I), Ahio (H0283I), Zecher (H2144) and Mikloth (H4732);

father of: Saul (H7586G)

Also named: Kis (Κίς "Kish" G2797)

§ Kish = "bent"

1) a Benjamite of the family of Matri, father of king Saul

2) an ancestor of Mordecai

3) son of Gibeon and brother of Abdon, Zur, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth; uncle of Kish the father of king Saul

4) a Merarite Levite, son of Mahli and grandson of Merari the progenitor of the family

5) a Merarite Levite, son of Abdi in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah

קִישׁ (qish) — Kish.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.23.21;

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kish (qish; Kis, Keis, "bow," "power"): The name of five persons mentioned in the Bible:

(1) The son of Abiel and the father of Saul, the first king of Israel. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, of the family of the Matrites (1Sa 9:1; 14:51; compare Ac 13:21; 1Sa 10:21). According to 1Ch 8:33 and 9:39, "Ner begat Kish" By reading "Ner begat Abner" (compare 1Sa 14:51; 1Ch 6:28), the difficulty is at least partly overcome. In 1Ch 12:1, Kish is also mentioned as the father of Saul, and again in

Kish

A bow. (1.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 23:21; 24:29).

(2.) A Benjamite of Jerusalem (1 Chr. 8:30; 9:36).

(3.) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29:12).

(4.) The great-grandfather of Mordecai (Esther 2:5).

(5.) A Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and father of king Saul (1 Sam. 9:1, 3; 10:11, 21; 14:51; 2 Sam. 21:14). All that is recorded of him is that he sent his son Saul in search of his asses that had strayed, and that he was buried in Zelah. Called Cis, Acts 13:21 (R.V., Kish).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a bow). The father of Saul; a Benjamite of the family of Matri. (B.C. 1095.) Son of Jehiel and uncle to the preceding. (1 Chronicles 9:36) A Benjamite, great-grandfather of Mordecai. (Esther 2:5) A Merarite of the house of Mahli, of the tribe of Levi. (1 Chronicles 23:21,22; 24:28,29)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

hard; difficult; straw; for age

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
הוֹלִ֣ידho.Lid he fathered H3205 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
496× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
to beget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget

Qal

bear, bring forth

less often beget

of both parents

Niph. be born

Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

Pu. be born

Hiph.

beget (a father a child)

bear

Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday

Hithp. declared their pedigree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth

. less often beget

. of both parents

. be born

. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

. be born

. . beget (a father a child)

. bear

. day of one's being born = birthday

. declared their pedigree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3205 yalad yaw-lad'

a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;

medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show

lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring

forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be

delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,

labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be

the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.

1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bear, bring forth

1a1a) of child birth

1a1b) of distress (simile)

1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)

1a2) to beget

1b) (Niphal) to be born

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cause or help to bring forth

1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife

1c3) midwife (participle)

1d) (Pual) to be born

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to beget (a child)

1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)

1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)

1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
שָׁא֑וּלsha.'Ul Saul H7586 Noun proper masculine
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shaul is a personal name meaning desired, given to several individuals in the Bible, including a Benjamite who became the first king of Israel and a Levite living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles and 1 Samuel.
Amplified meaning
Shaul, meaning desired, a Benjamite king
Tyndale gloss
Shaul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאוּל (Sha'uwl) means 'asked' and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament, most notably Saul, the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin. The entries indicate that the name can refer to multiple individuals, including an early king of Edom and a Levite. The name is derived from a passive participle form, suggesting a connection to the act of asking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)

397 1st king of Isr.

a king of Edom

a son of Simeon

a Levite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7586 שָׁאוּל (= asked)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7586 Sha'uwl shaw-ool'

passive participle of 7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an

Edomite and two Israelites:--Saul, Shaul.

see HEBREW for 07592

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Saul.

A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2;

son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532);

father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Saul or Shaul = "desired"

1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel

2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah

3) a son of Simeon

4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Shaul.

A man of the tribe of Simeon living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;

son of: Simeon (H8095) and Canaanite_woman (H3669);

brother of: Jemuel (H3223), Jamin (H3226), Ohad (H0161), Jachin (H3199) and Zerah (H2226L);

father of: Shallum (H7967K)

Also named: sha.u.li (שָׁאוּלִי "Shaulite" H7587)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sol (sha'ul; Saoul):

(1) The first king of Israel.

I. EARLY HISTORY

1. Name and Meaning

2. Genealogy

3. Home and Station

4. Sources for Life

5. Election as King

6. Reasons for It

II. REIGN AND FALL

1. His First Action

2. Army Reorganized

3. Battle of Michmash

4. Defeats the Amalekites

5. Deposition Pronounced

6. David Introduced to Saul

7. Two Accounts

8. Saul's Envy of David

9. Attempts to Get Rid of David

10. David Spares Saul

11. Saul's Divided Energies

12. Consults a Necromancer

13. Battle of Gilboa

14. Double Accounts

15. Saul's Posterity

III. CHARACTER

1. Book of Chronicles

2. Saul's Failings

3. His Virtue

4. David's Elegy

I. Early History.

1. Name and Meaning:

The name Saul is usually regarded as simply the passive participle of the verb "to ask," and so meaning "asked" (compare 1Sa 8:4 ff), but the gentilic adjective sha'uli (

Saul

Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48.

(2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, “asked for”), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father’s she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, “the hill of God,” A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., “Gibeah of God”), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west over Mount Ephraim, and then turning north-east they came to “the land of Shalisha,” and thence eastward to the land of Shalim, and at length came to the district of Zuph, near Samuel’s home at Ramah (9:5-10). At this point…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. (B.C, 1095-1055.) His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. To this we must add a taint of madness. which broke out in violent frenzy at times leaving him with long lucid intervals. He was remarkable for his strength and activity, (2 Samuel 1:25) and, like the Homeric heroes, of gigantic stature, taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Israelites, anointed by Samuel, B. C. 1091, and after a reign of forty years filled with various events, slain with his sons on Mount Gilboa. He was succeeded by David, who was his son-in-law, and whom he had endeavored to put to death. His history is contained in 1Sa 10:1-31:13. It is a sad and admonitory narrative. The morning of his reign was bright with special divine favors, both providential, and spiritual, 1Sa 9:20 10:1-11,24,25. But he soon began to disobey God, and was rejected as unworthy to found a line of kings; his sins and misfortunes multiplied, and his sun went down in gloom. In his first war with the Ammonites, God was with him; but then follow his presumptuous sacrifice, in the absence of Samuel…

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְשָׁא֗וּלve.sha.'Ul and Saul H7586 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shaul is a personal name meaning desired, given to several individuals in the Bible, including a Benjamite who became the first king of Israel and a Levite living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles and 1 Samuel.
Amplified meaning
the first king of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Shaul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאוּל (Sha'uwl) means 'asked' and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament, most notably Saul, the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin. The entries indicate that the name can refer to multiple individuals, including an early king of Edom and a Levite. The name is derived from a passive participle form, suggesting a connection to the act of asking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)

397 1st king of Isr.

a king of Edom

a son of Simeon

a Levite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7586 שָׁאוּל (= asked)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7586 Sha'uwl shaw-ool'

passive participle of 7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an

Edomite and two Israelites:--Saul, Shaul.

see HEBREW for 07592

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Saul.

A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2;

son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532);

father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Saul or Shaul = "desired"

1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel

2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah

3) a son of Simeon

4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Shaul.

A man of the tribe of Simeon living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;

son of: Simeon (H8095) and Canaanite_woman (H3669);

brother of: Jemuel (H3223), Jamin (H3226), Ohad (H0161), Jachin (H3199) and Zerah (H2226L);

father of: Shallum (H7967K)

Also named: sha.u.li (שָׁאוּלִי "Shaulite" H7587)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sol (sha'ul; Saoul):

(1) The first king of Israel.

I. EARLY HISTORY

1. Name and Meaning

2. Genealogy

3. Home and Station

4. Sources for Life

5. Election as King

6. Reasons for It

II. REIGN AND FALL

1. His First Action

2. Army Reorganized

3. Battle of Michmash

4. Defeats the Amalekites

5. Deposition Pronounced

6. David Introduced to Saul

7. Two Accounts

8. Saul's Envy of David

9. Attempts to Get Rid of David

10. David Spares Saul

11. Saul's Divided Energies

12. Consults a Necromancer

13. Battle of Gilboa

14. Double Accounts

15. Saul's Posterity

III. CHARACTER

1. Book of Chronicles

2. Saul's Failings

3. His Virtue

4. David's Elegy

I. Early History.

1. Name and Meaning:

The name Saul is usually regarded as simply the passive participle of the verb "to ask," and so meaning "asked" (compare 1Sa 8:4 ff), but the gentilic adjective sha'uli (

Saul

Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48.

(2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, “asked for”), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father’s she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, “the hill of God,” A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., “Gibeah of God”), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west over Mount Ephraim, and then turning north-east they came to “the land of Shalisha,” and thence eastward to the land of Shalim, and at length came to the district of Zuph, near Samuel’s home at Ramah (9:5-10). At this point…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. (B.C, 1095-1055.) His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. To this we must add a taint of madness. which broke out in violent frenzy at times leaving him with long lucid intervals. He was remarkable for his strength and activity, (2 Samuel 1:25) and, like the Homeric heroes, of gigantic stature, taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Israelites, anointed by Samuel, B. C. 1091, and after a reign of forty years filled with various events, slain with his sons on Mount Gilboa. He was succeeded by David, who was his son-in-law, and whom he had endeavored to put to death. His history is contained in 1Sa 10:1-31:13. It is a sad and admonitory narrative. The morning of his reign was bright with special divine favors, both providential, and spiritual, 1Sa 9:20 10:1-11,24,25. But he soon began to disobey God, and was rejected as unworthy to found a line of kings; his sins and misfortunes multiplied, and his sun went down in gloom. In his first war with the Ammonites, God was with him; but then follow his presumptuous sacrifice, in the absence of Samuel…

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
הוֹלִ֤ידho.Lid he fathered H3205 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
496× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
to beget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget

Qal

bear, bring forth

less often beget

of both parents

Niph. be born

Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

Pu. be born

Hiph.

beget (a father a child)

bear

Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday

Hithp. declared their pedigree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth

. less often beget

. of both parents

. be born

. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

. be born

. . beget (a father a child)

. bear

. day of one's being born = birthday

. declared their pedigree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3205 yalad yaw-lad'

a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;

medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show

lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring

forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be

delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,

labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be

the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.

1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bear, bring forth

1a1a) of child birth

1a1b) of distress (simile)

1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)

1a2) to beget

1b) (Niphal) to be born

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cause or help to bring forth

1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife

1c3) midwife (participle)

1d) (Pual) to be born

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to beget (a child)

1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)

1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)

1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ye.ho.na.Tan Jonathan H3083 Noun proper masculine
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jehonathan was a son of King Saul and a friend of David, meaning 'Jehovah has given'. He was also known as Jonathan.
Amplified meaning
Jehonathan, meaning Jehovah has given
Tyndale gloss
Jonathan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יְהוֹנָתָן (*Yhownathan*) means 'Jehovah has given' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily Jonathan, the son of King Saul and a close friend of David. The entries detail various figures named Jonathan, including a high priest's son, warriors, and Levites, with notable mentions in Judges and 1 Samuel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן n.pr.m. (י׳ hath given)

son of Saul

son of Abiathar

nephew of David

of David, i.e. his uncle?

one of David’s heroes

one of David’s treasurers

a scribe

Levites

a priest

priest to the tribe of Dan, son of Gershom

a Judaite captain, after fall of Jerus.

a Judaite

father of Ebed

son of Asahel

a priest

son of Joiada

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3083 יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3083 Yhownathan yeh-ho-naw-thawn'

from 3068 and 5414; Jehovah-given; Jehonathan, the name of

four Israelites:--Jonathan. Compare 3129.

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 05414

see HEBREW for 03129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוֹנָתָן (ye.ho.na.tan) — Jonathan.

A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jdg.18.30;

son of: Gershom (H1647)(?)

§ Jonathan or Jehonathan = "Jehovah has given"

1) a son of king Saul and a friend of David

2) a son of the high priest Abiathar and the last descendant of Eli of whom we hear

3) a nephew of David who like David slew a giant of Gath

4) an uncle of David

5) one of David's mighty warriors

6) one of David's treasurers

7) a scribe in the time of Jeremiah

8) a Levite and father of Zechariah, a priest who blew the trumpet at the dedication of the wall

9) a son or descendant of Gershom, the son of Moses, and a priest to the tribe of Dan

10) a son of Kareah and a brother of Johanan; a Judaite captain after the fall of Jerusalem

11) another Judaite father of Peleth

12) father of Ebed in the time of Ezra

13) son of Asahel in the time of Ezra

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jonathan

Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30. The Rabbins changed this name into Manasseh “to screen the memory of the great lawgiver from the stain of having so unworthy an apostate among his near descendants.” He became priest of the idol image at Dan, and this office continued in his family till the Captivity.

(2.) The eldest son of king Saul, and the bosom friend of David. He is first mentioned when he was about thirty years of age, some time after his father’s accession to the throne (1 Sam. 13:2). Like his father, he was a man of great strength and activity (

that is, "the gift of Jehovah, " the eldest son of King Saul. (B.C. about 1095-1056.) He was a man of great strength and activity. (2 Samuel 1:23) He was also famous as a warrior, (1 Chronicles 12:2) as is shown by the courage he showing in attacking the garrison of the Philistines, in company with is armor-bearer only, slaying twenty men and putting an army to flight. (1 Samuel 14:6-16) During the pursuit, Jonathan, who had not heard of the rash curse, ch. (1 Samuel 14:24) which Saul invoked on any one who ate before the evening, tasted the honey which lay on the ground. Saul would have sacrificed him; but the people interposed in behalf of the hero of that great day, and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A Levite, son of Gershom, and grandson of Moses, who after the death of Joshua impiously served as a priest, first to Micah, and then to the Danites in Laish or Dan, where his posterity succeeded him until the captivity, Jud 17:1-18:31.

2. The eldest son of Saul, and one of the loveliest characters in Old Testament history. The narrative of his brilliant exploit in Michmash, 1Sa 13:1-14:52, illustrates his pious faith, his bravery, (see also 1Sa 13:3) and the favor borne him by the people, who would not suffer him to be put to death in consequence of Saul’s foolish vow. This valiant and generous prince loved David as his own soul, 1Sa 18:1-4 19:2 20:1-42; and though…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

given of God

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
מַלְכִּי־mal.ki- Malki- H4444 Noun proper masculine
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Amplified meaning
my king is wealth, a son of Saul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ n.pr.m. son of Saul (my king (= י׳) is opulence)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4444 מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4444 Malkiyshuwa` mal-kee-shoo'-ah

from 4428 and 7769; king of wealth; Malkishua, an

Israelite:--Malchishua.

see HEBREW for 04428

see HEBREW for 07769

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ (mal.ki.shu.a) — Malchi-shua.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.49;

son of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293);

brother of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Merab (H4764) and Michal (H4324);

half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Malchishua or Melchishua = "my king is wealth"

a son of king Saul of Israel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
שׁ֔וּעַShu.a' Shua H4444 Noun proper masculine
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ n.pr.m. son of Saul (my king (= י׳) is opulence)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4444 מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4444 Malkiyshuwa` mal-kee-shoo'-ah

from 4428 and 7769; king of wealth; Malkishua, an

Israelite:--Malchishua.

see HEBREW for 04428

see HEBREW for 07769

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ (mal.ki.shu.a) — Malchi-shua.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.49;

son of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293);

brother of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Merab (H4764) and Michal (H4324);

half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Malchishua or Melchishua = "my king is wealth"

a son of king Saul of Israel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Shua

Wealth. (1.) A Canaanite whose daughter was married to Judah (1 Chr. 2:3).

(2.) A daughter of Heber the Asherite (1 Chr. 7:32).

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

crying; saving

Nave's Topical Bible

1. A Canaanite and the father-in-law of Judah Ge 38:2,12

R. V., A. V. SHUAH) 1Ch 2:3

2. Daughter of Heber 1Ch 7:32

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
אֲבִינָדָ֖ב'a.vi.na.Dav Abinadab H41 Noun proper masculine
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abinadab was the name of several Israelites, including a man who sheltered the ark and a brother of King David. His name means 'my father is noble' or 'my father is willing'. These men played important roles in biblical history.
Amplified meaning
a brother of King David, meaning father of generosity
Tyndale gloss
Abinadab
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲבִינָדָב (*Abiynadab*) means 'my father is noble' or 'my father is willing.' It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a man from Gibeah who sheltered the ark, a son of Jesse (David's older brother), and a son of Saul who died with him. The entries indicate a common understanding of the name's meaning and its biblical references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲבִינָדָב n.pr.m. (my father is noble)

a man of Gibeah, in whose house the ark tarried

a son of Jesse

a son of Saul

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H41 אֲבִינָדָב

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

41 'Abiynadab ab-ee-naw-dawb'

from 1 and 5068; father of generosity (i.e. liberal);

Abinadab, the name of four Israelites:--Abinadab.

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 05068

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבִינָדָב (a.vi.na.dav) — Abinadab.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.7.1;

father of: Eleazar (H0499H), Uzzah (H5798A), Ahio (H0283)

§ Abinadab = "my father is noble" or "my father is willing"

1) a man of Gibeah who sheltered the ark

2) second son of Jesse, David's older brother

3) a son of Saul, slain with him by the Philistines

אֲבִינָדָב (a.vi.na.dav) — Abinadab.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.49;

son of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293);

brother of: Jonathan (H3083H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764) and Michal (H4324);

half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H); also called Ishvi (KJV: Ishui) at 1Sa.14.49;

Also named: yish.vi (יִשְׁוִי "Ishvi" H3440H)

§ Abinadab = "my father is noble" or "my father is willing"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bin'-a-dab ('abhinadhabh, "father of willingness," or, "my father is willing." This is according to the ordinary usage of the second word in the name--"willing" rather than "munificent" or "noble"):

(1) The man in whose house the men of Kiriath-jearim placed the ark, after its return from the land of the Philistines, his house being either in Gibeah of Benjamin or "in the hill" (1Sa 7:1; 2Sa 6:3,4). To account for the ambiguity note that gibh`ah means hill, and that the place-name Gibeah ordinarily has the definite article. It is natural to think that Abinadab was himself a man of Kiriath-jearim, though the account does not explicitly say so. The record is that the men of Kiriath-jearim were summoned to take charge of the ark at a time when no one else dared to have it (

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abinadab

Father of nobleness; i.e., “noble.” (1.) A Levite of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark of the covenant was deposited after having been brought back from the land of the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1). It remained there twenty years, till it was at length removed by David (1 Sam. 7:1,2; 1 Chr. 13:7).

(2.) The second of the eight sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:8). He was with Saul in the campaign against the Philistines in which Goliath was slain (1 Sam. 17:13).

(3.) One of Saul’s sons, who peristed with his father in the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:2;

A Levite, a native of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark remained 20 years. (1 Samuel 7:1,2; 1 Chronicles 13:7) (B.C. 1124.) Second son of Jesse, who followed Saul to his war against the Philistines, (1 Samuel 16:8; 17:13) (B.C. 1063.) A son of Saul, who was slain with his brothers at the fatal battle on Mount Gilboa. (1 Samuel 31:2) (B.C. 1053.) Father of one of the twelve chief officers of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:11) (B.C. before 1014.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The same as Aminadab, b and m is often interchanged in Hebrew.

1. A son of Jesse, one of the three who followed Saul in the war with the Philistines, 1Sa 16:8; 17:13.

2. A son of Saul, slain in the battle at Gilboa, 1Sa 31:2.

3. A Levite of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark of God, when restored by the Philistines, remained seventy years, 1Sa 7:1; 1Ch 13:7.

and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ner he fathered the object marker Kish and Kish he fathered the object marker Saul and Saul he fathered the object marker Jonathan and the object marker Malki- Shua and the object marker Abinadab and the object marker Eshbaal
אֶשְׁבָּֽעַל׃'esh.Ba.'al Eshbaal H792 Noun proper masculine
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Eshbaal was a son of King Saul, mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:8. His name means 'a man of Baal', and he is also known as Ishbosheth. He played a role in the events following Saul's death.
Tyndale gloss
Eshbaal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת (H792), or Eshbaal, means 'man of Baal' and refers to a son of Saul. He is mentioned in the context of the United Monarchy, specifically in 2 Samuel 2:8. The name is also associated with Ishbosheth, highlighting a connection between the two.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶשְׁבַּעַל v. אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H792 אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

792 'Eshba`al esh-bah'-al

from 376 and 1168; man of Baal; Eshbaal (or Ishbosheth), a

son of Saul:--Eshbaal.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 01168

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶשְׁבַּעַל (esh.ba.al) — Eshbaal.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.2.8;

son of: Saul (H7586G);

brother of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H)

Another name of ish-bo.shet (אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת "Ish-bosheth" H0378)

§ Eshbaal = "a man of Baal"

the fourth son of Saul, also called Ishbosheth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

esh'-ba-al.

See ISH-BOSHETH.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Eshbaal

Man of Baal, the fourth son of king Saul (1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39). He is also called Ish-bosheth (q.v.), 2 Sam. 2:8.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Baal’s man), (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39) the same as Ish-bosheth.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1Ch 8:33, the fourth son of Saul, generally called Ishbosheth. The word BAAL, the name of an idol, was not pronounced by scrupulous Jews; they substituted BOSHETH, confusion. For Meribbaal, they said Mephibosheth, etc. See ISHBOSHETH.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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