בֻּנִּי (bun.ni)
bun.ni
Bunni
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Bunni, meaning “built,” appears in the Hebrew Bible as a personal identifier for Levites during the post-exilic period. It is not a common title but a specific proper noun attached to individuals who served in the religious community of Jerusalem. The sources indicate that this name belongs to men active in the time of Nehemiah, linking them directly to the restoration efforts after the Babylonian exile.
Scripture mentions Bunni in only two verses, both within the book of Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 9:4, he is listed among the Levites who stood on the stairs and confessed the sins of Israel, highlighting a role of spiritual leadership and intercession. Another reference in Nehemiah 10:15 places him among those who sealed the covenant agreement, underscoring his participation in the formal renewal of the community’s commitment to God.
The etymology of Bunni derives from the root meaning “to build,” which carries significant weight in this historical context. For a Levite named Bunni during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and spiritual life, the name serves as a fitting symbol. It reflects the broader theme of reconstruction that defined the era, where physical structures and social order were being restored under divine guidance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bunni means 'built.' In the book of Nehemiah, we meet a Levite by that name who stood with others on the stairs and cried out to God in confession (Nehemiah 9:4). His very name was a quiet reminder that God was building something new in Jerusalem—not just walls, but hearts turned back to Him. When you feel like you’re in a season of re-construction, remember that the Master Builder works through ordinary people who pray and confess. He does not just repair what’s broken; He makes us part of His ongoing story.
A genealogy later lists Bunni as an ancestor (Nehemiah 11:15). His name outlasted him. That is the kind of building God does: He takes a life offered in worship and weaves it into something that endures. Your quiet faithfulness, your prayers, your public confession—all are stones in His work. Even when you can’t see the whole, the Builder is building something beautiful. And one day, you’ll see it complete.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bunni2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בּוּנִּֽי\׃1×
- בֻּנִּ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 9:4
Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.
Here the name 'Built' is attached to a man who publicly confesses sin and cries for mercy, symbolizing the spiritual reconstruction that accompanies physical rebuilding.
-
Nehemiah 11:15
Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
The genealogical mention shows that the name carried on into future generations, suggesting that a legacy of being 'built' by God outlasts one's own life.