Ben-oni is a name found in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis. The name is given by Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, during the birth of her second son. The account is recorded in Genesis 35:16-18:

"Then they journeyed on from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, 'Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.' And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin." (Genesis 35:16-18)

Meaning of the Name

The name Ben-oni is of Hebrew origin and is commonly understood to mean "son of my sorrow" or "son of my affliction." This name reflects the intense pain and sorrow Rachel experienced during childbirth, which ultimately led to her death. The name captures the tragic circumstances surrounding the birth of her son, marking a moment of profound personal loss.

Jacob's Renaming

Despite Rachel's choice of the name Ben-oni, Jacob, the child's father, chose to rename him Benjamin, which means "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." This renaming signifies a shift from sorrow to a more positive and hopeful outlook. The name Benjamin is associated with strength and favor, as the right hand is traditionally seen as a symbol of power and blessing.

Theological Significance

The dual naming of Rachel's son highlights the interplay between human suffering and divine providence. Rachel's choice of Ben-oni underscores the reality of human pain and mortality, while Jacob's renaming to Benjamin reflects a belief in God's ongoing purpose and blessing, even in the midst of sorrow. This narrative invites reflection on the themes of suffering, hope, and the transformative power of God's promises.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, names held significant meaning and were often reflective of circumstances surrounding a person's birth or life. The naming of Ben-oni/Benjamin is consistent with this cultural practice, where names were not merely identifiers but carried deep personal and familial significance.

Legacy

Benjamin, as the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons, became the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin played a significant role in Israel's history, producing notable figures such as King Saul and the Apostle Paul. The transformation from Ben-oni to Benjamin serves as a reminder of God's redemptive work in the lives of His people, turning sorrow into strength and loss into legacy.BEN-ONI

ben-o'-ni (ben-'oni; huios odunes mou, "son of my sorrow"): The name given by the dying Rachel to her new-born son; changed by his father Jacob to BENJAMIN (Genesis 35:18) which see.

1126. Ben-oni -- "son of my sorrow," Rachel's name for Benjamin
Ben-oni. 1125, 1126. Ben-oni. 1127 . "son of my sorrow," Rachel's name
for Benjamin. Transliteration: Ben-oni Phonetic Spelling ...
/hebrew/1126.htm - 6k

The Incarnation and Birth of Christ
... And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she
called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the incarnation and birth of.htm

The Israelites
... Benjamin or Ben-Oni was, as a tribe, merely the southern portion of the house of
Joseph, which had settled around the sanctuary of Beth-On or Beth-el. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Letter H
... 1835 * Harris, AN "Received 1836 * Harris, Andrew JS "Received 1835, Located 1839 *
Harris, Andrew P. "Received 1837 * Harris, Benoni "Received 1804 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter h.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... While our grief called the offspring of desire "Benoni," the son of my sorrow, our
faith has been afterwards able to give it a name of delight, "Benjamin," the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

Of the Repose of a Soul Recollected in Her Well-Beloved.
... a delight it was to this Benjamin, child of his Saviour's joy, to sleep in the arms
of that father, who the day after, recommended him, as the Benoni, child of ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter viii of the repose.htm

Chapter xxxv
... And it came to pass as her soul departed"for she was dying"that she called his name
Ben-oni (Son of my sorrow), but his father called him Benjamin (Son of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxv.htm

Book 1 Footnotes:
... [39] Since Benoni signifies the son of my sorrow, and Benjamin the son of days,
or one born in the father's old age, Genesis 44:20, I suspect Josephus's ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 1 footnotes .htm

The Testament of Benjamin Concerning a Pure Mind.
... The Targum Jerushalmi (on Genesis 35:18), and the Breshith Rabba, 82, make Benjamin
and Benoni synonymous. Cf. Josephus, Antiq., i. 21. 3; Cyril, Glaph. ...
/.../xii the testament of benjamin concerning.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... (Here it was that she gave birth to her son destined to be not what his dying mother
called him, Benoni, that is the "Son of my pangs" but as his father in the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Chapter xxxiv
... And it came to pass as her soul departed"for she was dying"that she called his name
Ben-oni (Son of my sorrow), but his father called him Benjamin (Son of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiv.htm

Benoni (1 Occurrence)
... ben-o'-ni (ben-'oni; huios odunes mou, "son of my sorrow"): The name given by the
dying Rachel to her new-born son; changed by his father ...Benoni (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/benoni.htm - 7k

Ben-oni (1 Occurrence)
Ben-oni. Benoni, Ben-oni. Ben-o'ni . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BEN-ONI. ...
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT NAS NIV). Benoni, Ben-oni. Ben-o'ni . Reference Bible
/b/ben-oni.htm - 7k

Benjamin (167 Occurrences)
... died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my ... As
she felt death approaching she called him Benoni, "son of my sorrow." Fearing ...
/b/benjamin.htm - 50k

Ben-o'ni (1 Occurrence)
Ben-o'ni. Ben-oni, Ben-o'ni. Benoth . Multi-Version Concordance Ben-o'ni (1
Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Ben-oni, Ben-o'ni. Benoth . Reference Bible.
/b/ben-o'ni.htm - 6k

Departing (20 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Genesis 35:18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died),
that she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. ...
/d/departing.htm - 12k

Be'no (1 Occurrence)
Be'no. Beno, Be'no. Benoni . Multi-Version Concordance Be'no (1 Occurrence).
Matthew ... one. (WEB). Beno, Be'no. Benoni . Reference Bible.
/b/be'no.htm - 6k

Dying (57 Occurrences)
... Genesis 35:18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she
named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. (See NIV). ...
/d/dying.htm - 22k

Calleth (261 Occurrences)
... Genesis 35:18 And it cometh to pass in the going out of her soul (for she died),
that she calleth his name Ben-Oni; and his father called him Benjamin; (YLT). ...
/c/calleth.htm - 35k

Soul (554 Occurrences)
... Genesis 35:18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that
she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. ...
/s/soul.htm - 47k

Who was Benjamin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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