בַּעֲנָה (ba.a.nah)
ba.a.nah
Baanah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Baanah means "in affliction" or "affliction." It appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within lists of individuals during the United Monarchy and the post-exilic period. The word serves as a personal identifier rather than a theological concept, linking several distinct figures across different eras of Israel’s history.
The most prominent bearer is Baanah son of Rimmon, a Benjamite who, along with his brother Rechab, assassinated Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul (2 Samuel 4:5). Their act was intended to curry favor with David, but the king ordered their execution for murdering an innocent man in his own house. This event highlights the political instability following Saul’s death and David’s strict adherence to justice.
Other individuals named Baanah include a Netophathite father of Heleb, one of David’s mighty warriors (1 Chronicles 11:29), and a leader among the exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 7:34). The recurrence of this name suggests it was a known family designation in Benjamin and Judah, reflecting a reality where hardship was a common part of life and identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Baanah carries the weight of hardship, translating to "in affliction." In the ancient world, names often reflected a family’s reality or hope. For those bearing this name, life was marked by struggle, whether through political violence or the long journey back from exile. It reminds us that our identities are not defined by comfort alone, but also by how we endure and remain faithful during difficult seasons.
Consider Baanah son of Rimmon, who lived in a time of intense instability after King Saul’s death. His actions, alongside his brother Rechab, led to tragic consequences when they assassinated Ish-bosheth to gain favor with David. This story shows how fear and ambition can distort our path, leading to destruction rather than deliverance.
Yet the name also appears among those who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. These people faced poverty and opposition but rebuilt their community. Their presence in the list of returnees suggests that even those named for affliction played a role in restoring God’s people. We can find encouragement knowing that hardship does not exclude us from God’s purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Baanah5×
- and/ Baanah2×
- [was] Baanah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּעֲנָ֑ה2×
- וּ/בַעֲנָ֥ה1×
- וּ/בַעֲנָ֔ה1×
- בַּעֲנָ֣ה1×
- בַּעֲנָ֖ה1×
- בַּֽעֲנָ֜ה1×
- בַּֽעֲנָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 4:9
David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
David contrasts the violence of Baanah and Rechab with Yahweh, who has redeemed his soul out of all adversity, highlighting divine deliverance over human treachery.
-
II Samuel 4:5
The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth as he took his rest at noon.
This verse records the moment Baanah and his brother entered Ish-bosheth’s house to commit murder, illustrating the dangerous political climate of the time.
-
Ezra 2:2
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Baanah is listed among those who returned from exile with Zerubbabel, showing his family’s participation in the restoration of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Baanah mean?
Who are the main people named Baanah in the Bible?
Why is Baanah significant in 2 Samuel 4?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 4 books)
II Samuel 5 verses
Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab,…
II Samuel 4:5The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of…
II Samuel 4:6They came there into the middle of the house as though they would have fetched wheat, and they struck him in the body;…
II Samuel 4:9David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As Yahweh lives,…
II Samuel 23:29Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,