בָּנִי
𐤁𐤍𐤉
Bani
H1137 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Bani', likely derived from a root conveying 'built' or 'made'. Used as the proper name of several Israelite men in biblical texts. The term does not appear as a common noun but only as a proper name, often designating individuals from the post-exilic period associated with various roles, such as returning exiles, signatories, or supporters of religious reforms.
Semantic Range
proper name of Israelite males, especially post-exilic leaders or participants; by extension, may indicate one who has been 'built up' or 'established'; not used as common noun or adjective
Root / Etymology
From the root בנה (b-n-h), whose fundamental meaning is 'to build' or 'to construct'. The name בָּנִי (Bani) is most likely a shortened or hypocoristic form of a longer theophoric name such as 'Yahweh has built' or 'Yahu has built,' though such a full form does not occur in extant texts. The exact theophoric element is not preserved in this form, and the precise interpretation remains somewhat conjectural.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name בָּנִי occurs for multiple individuals in the Hebrew Bible, most prominently in post-exilic texts (e.g., lists in Ezra and Nehemiah), frequently as a returnee from exile or a signatory to communal covenants. Its use is primarily from the Persian period onwards, coinciding with the restoration community in Yehud. The form represents a common pattern for personal naming, possibly reflecting familial pride or religious assertion of being 'established' or 'rebuilt' after exile. Some English translations render the name as 'Bani,' while others have given it as a common noun or miss-shown as 'built,' which does not match its actual usage as a personal name. The name must be distinguished from similar forms (e.g., בֵּן, 'son') with separate meanings and uses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּנָה; built; Bani, the name of five Israelites; Bani.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
בנה (Bayit) — to build, construct, establish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1004 | בַּיִת | in the houses |
| H1005 | בַּיִת | the built-house |
| H1121 | בֵּן | sons |
| H1122 | בֵּן | son |
| H1123 | בֵּן | sons of |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1137-01 |
בָּנִ֖י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani | 9 |
H1137-02 |
וּ/בָנִ֥י | uvani | HC/Np |
and Bani | And Built-One | and Bani | 3 |
H1137-03 |
בָנִ֔י | vani | HNp |
Bani | Built-One | Bani | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
15 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1137-01 |
2 Samuel 23:36 | בָּנִ֖י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-03 |
Ezra 2:10 | בָנִ֔י | vani | HNp |
Bani | Built-One | Bani |
H1137-01 |
Ezra 10:29 | בָּנִ֑י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-03 |
Ezra 10:34 | בָנִ֔י | vani | HNp |
Bani | Built-One | Bani |
H1137-02 |
Ezra 10:38 | וּ/בָנִ֥י | uvani | HC/Np |
and Bani | And Built-One | and Bani |
H1137-01 |
Nehemiah 3:17 | בָּנִ֑י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-02 |
Nehemiah 8:7 | וּ/בָנִ֡י | uvani | HC/Np |
and Bani | And Built-One | and Bani |
H1137-02 |
Nehemiah 9:4 | וּ/בָנִ֜י | uvani | HC/Np |
and Bani | And Built-One | and Bani |
H1137-01 |
Nehemiah 9:4 | בָּנִ֣י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-01 |
Nehemiah 9:5 | בָּנִ֨י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-03 |
Nehemiah 10:14 | בָנִ֖י | vani | HNp |
Bani | Built-One | Bani |
H1137-01 |
Nehemiah 10:15 | בָּנִֽי | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-01 |
Nehemiah 11:22 | בָּנִי֙ | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:31 | בָּנִ֖י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |
H1137-01 |
1 Chronicles 9:4 | בָּנִ֔י | bani | HNp |
Bani | Built-one | Bani |