Ibneiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ibneiah was a man of the tribe of Benjamin, named in the genealogical records preserved in 1 Chronicles. He is identified specifically as “the son of Jeroham” (1 Chronicles 9:8). Beyond this single verse, Scripture records nothing else about him—no deed, no word, no further trace of his life. He belongs to that great company of ordinary individuals whose names are remembered only because they were inscribed in a genealogy.
The setting of the passage is significant. First Chronicles 9 lists the inhabitants of Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian exile, particularly the heads of families and those who served in the temple. The chapter opens by summarizing the people who “dwelt in Jerusalem,” including “certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin” (1 Chronicles 9:3). Ibneiah appears in a cluster of Benjamite names—men such as Sallu, Elah, and Meshullam—who were counted among the residents of the restored city. His inclusion suggests he was regarded as a legitimate member of the tribe, a link in the chain of Benjamin’s descendants.
What Scripture says of him is simply that he existed, that he was a son of Jeroham, and that he was numbered among the Benjamites of Jerusalem. He did nothing notable that the text records. He is not praised for courage, faith, or leadership; nor is he condemned. He is a name in a list, a single verse in a long registry. Yet his presence in the sacred record testifies that he was known to God and counted among His people.
The Name
The name Ibneiah (Hebrew *Yibneyah*) appears to be a compound name built from the root *banah*, meaning “to build,” and the divine name *Yah* (the LORD). Thus it may be understood as “the LORD builds” or “Yahweh builds.” This is a plausible and commonly suggested derivation, though the exact form and vocalization leave some room for uncertainty. What is clear is that the name carries a theophoric element, invoking the God of Israel, as many Hebrew names do. It should be noted that the meaning is not stated in Scripture itself; the interpretation rests on the etymology of the Hebrew components rather than on any biblical explanation.
A Closing Thought
Ibneiah’s life is a reminder that most of God’s people are not remembered for great deeds but for belonging to Him. One verse, one name, one father’s name—that is all we know. Yet that is enough. The LORD who “builds” His house knows every stone He sets in it, even the ones the world never notices. If your life seems small and your name unknown beyond your own family, take heart: you are written into a genealogy far greater than any earthly record, and the God who builds His church has not forgotten you.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 9:8 — And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;