1 Samuel 9:21
Old Testament • 14 words with Strong's data
"And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?"
Word-by-Word Analysis
שָׁאוּל
Shâʼûwl
Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
עָנָה
ʻânâh
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, ...
אָמַר
ʼâmar
to say (used with great latitude)
בֶּן־יְמִינִי
Ben-yᵉmîynîy
a Benjaminite, or descendent of Benjamin
ἐλάχιστος
eláchistos
used as equivalent to G3398 (μικρός); least (in size, amount, dignity, etc.)
שֵׁבֶט
shêbeṭ
a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
יִשְׂרָאֵל
Yisrâʼêl
Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מִשְׁפָּחָה
mishpâchâh
a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
קָטָן
qâṭân
abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)
מִשְׁפָּחָה
mishpâchâh
a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
מַטֶּה
maṭṭeh
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),...
בִּנְיָמִין
Binyâmîyn
Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
כֵּן
kên
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner...
דָבַר
dâbar
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Key Terms in This Verse
ἐλάχιστος eláchistos
used as equivalent to G3398 (μικρός); least (in size, amount, dignity, etc.)
Study G1646 →דָבַר dâbar
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Study H1696 →קָטָן qâṭân
abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)
Study H6996 →שֵׁבֶט shêbeṭ
a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
Study H7626 →מִשְׁפָּחָה mishpâchâh
a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
Study H4940 →בִּנְיָמִין Binyâmîyn
Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Study H1144 →מִשְׁפָּחָה mishpâchâh
a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
Study H4940 →מַטֶּה maṭṭeh
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of l...
Study H4294 →כֵּן kên
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)
Study H3651 →Cross References
And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
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