יִשְׁבּוֹ בְּנֹב (yish.bo b.nov)
yish.bo b.nov
Ishbi-benob
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ishbi-benob, meaning "his dwelling is in Nob," identifies a Philistine warrior mentioned only once in Scripture at 2 Samuel 21:16. He was the son of Rapha and a brother to Goliath, Saph, Lahmi, and another giant, placing him within a lineage of formidable opponents facing Israel during the United Monarchy.
His brief appearance highlights the ongoing threat posed by the Philistine giants even after David’s initial victories. The text records that he attempted to defeat King David with a spear weighing three hundred shekels of bronze, but was ultimately slain by Abishai, son of Zeruiah. This event underscores the persistent danger David faced from his enemies' kin and the role of his loyal warriors in securing the kingdom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ishbi-benob appears only once in Scripture, marking a moment when King David faced a renewed threat from the Philistine giants. This warrior, identified as a descendant of Rapha and likely related to Goliath, sought to kill David with a heavy bronze spear and a new sword. The brevity of his mention highlights that even after famous victories, David’s life remained under constant danger from enemy lineages.
Yet the narrative does not leave us in fear. It records that Abishai, one of David’s loyal warriors, came to his rescue and slew the attacker. This detail reminds us that we do not fight our battles alone. God often provides faithful companions and divine protection when the odds seem stacked against us.
For your faith, this story offers comfort in times of persistent struggle. Just as David was preserved through loyal help and God’s sovereignty, you can trust that no threat is too great for your Creator to handle. His deliverance is sure, even when enemies rise again.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Ishbi-1×
- Benob1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יִשְׁבִּ֨י1×
- בְּנֹ֜ב1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 21:16
and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought he would kill David.
This verse identifies Ishbi-benob as a giant from Rapha’s line who specifically targeted David with a heavy spear, showing that the threat of Philistine giants persisted beyond Goliath's death.