Kish
maleUnited MonarchyMeaning: “Bow; snare”
A wealthy Benjamite, the father of King Saul, whose lost donkeys led Saul to Samuel and the throne.
Biography
Kish was a wealthy and influential Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and the father of Israel's first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1). Scripture introduces him as "a mighty man of power."
The lost donkeys
It was the loss of Kish's donkeys that set the stage for Saul's rise: sent by his father to find the strayed animals, Saul instead found the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king (1 Samuel 9:3–10:1). Kish thus stands, quietly, at the threshold of Israel's monarchy. The apostle Paul, himself a Benjamite, later recalled that God gave Israel "Saul the son of Cis" (Acts 13:21).
Life Timeline
His lost donkeys lead Saul to Samuel and the throne
On the Bible timeline
Kish belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).
- c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Kish
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Kish appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
5 verses in 1 book1 Samuel5 verses
1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. a Benjamite: or, the son of a man of Jemini power: or, substance
1 Samuel 9:3
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
1 Samuel 10:11
And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? one: Heb. a man to his neighbour
1 Samuel 10:21
When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
1 Samuel 14:51
And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
Frequently asked about Kish
Who was Kish in the Bible?
A wealthy Benjamite, the father of King Saul, whose lost donkeys led Saul to Samuel and the throne.
What does the name Kish mean?
The name Kish means “Bow; snare”.
Who were Kish's children?
Kish's children include Saul.
Where does Kish appear in the Bible?
Kish is mentioned 5 times across 1 book: 1 Samuel.
What can we learn from Kish?
The story of Kish touches on themes of abner, lot, the — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Kish's life.
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