H7017 H7017
Kenite; a gentilic adjective for the semi-nomadic clan allied with Israel, associated with Cain and metalworking.
A gentilic adjective identifying members of the Kenite clan, a semi-nomadic people traced to Cain (קַיִן) and associated with metalworking. They appear first among the peoples of Canaan (Gen 15:19), and their alliance with Israel runs deep: Moses' father-in-law was a Kenite (Judg 1:16), Heber the Kenite's wife Jael killed Sisera (Judg 4:11, 17; 5:24), and Saul warned the Kenites before attacking Amalek because they had shown kindness to Israel (1 Sam 15:6). Balaam's oracle over their cliffside dwellings (Num 24:21) plays on the name itself. Spanish ceneo and French Kénite preserve the ethnic identification across traditions.
Senses
1. Kenite (gentilic) — A member of the Kenite people, a clan linked to Cain/Qayin and known for semi-nomadic life and metalworking. They maintained a persistent alliance with Israel from the wilderness period onward. Key figures include Jael wife of Heber the Kenite (Judg 4:11, 17; 5:24), Moses' Kenite father-in-law (Judg 1:16), and the Rechabite descendants traced to Kenite origins (1 Chr 2:55). Balaam's oracle (Num 24:21–22) and Saul's warning (1 Sam 15:6) both attest to their distinct identity within the broader narrative. 13×
AR["الـ-قينيّون", "القينيِّ", "القينيّينَ", "القِينِي", "الْقَيْنِيُّ", "الْقَيْنِيِّ", "الْقَيْنِيِّينَ", "مِنْ-قايِنَ"]·ben["-কেনীয়দের", "কয়িন-থেকে", "কেনীয়", "কেনীয়-", "কেনীয়কে", "কেনীয়দের", "কেনীয়রা", "কেনীয়ের"]·DE["-der-Keini", "Qenite", "[הקינים]", "den-Keniter", "der-Keini", "der-Kenite", "der-Kenites", "der-Qenite", "von-Kayin"]·EN["-the-Keini", "Qenite", "from-Kayin", "the-Keini", "the-Kenite", "the-Kenites", "the-Qenite", "the-Qinim"]·FR["-le-Keini", "Qenite", "[הקינים]", "de-Kayin", "le-Keini", "le-Kenite", "le-Kenites", "le-Kénien", "le-Qenite"]·heb["ה-קיני", "ה-קינים", "מ-קין", "קיני"]·HI["कायीन-से", "केनि", "केनि-के", "केनियोन्न", "केनियोन्न-ने", "केनी", "केनी-की", "केनी-के"]·ID["dari-Kain", "orang-Keni"]·IT["-il-Keini", "Qenite", "[הקינים]", "da-Kayin", "il-Keini", "il-Kenite", "il-Kenites", "il-Qenite"]·jav["ing-tiyang-Keni", "saking-Kain", "tiyang-Keni", "tiyang-Kèni", "tiyang-Kéni"]·KO["가인-에서", "가인과", "겐-사람-은", "겐-사람-의", "겐-사람의", "겐사람이", "그-간인들", "그-검의", "그-검인-을", "그-검인의", "그-겐사람"]·PT["Qenita", "de-Qayin", "o-Qeini", "o-Qenita", "o-qeni", "o-qenita", "os-Qinim"]·RU["-Кеней", "Кейниец", "Кейнийцу", "Кейнит", "Кейнита", "Кейнитя", "Кенея", "Кенеянина", "кенеянина", "от-Кайина", "пришедшие"]·ES["de-Kaín", "el-ceneo", "el-keini", "el-kenita", "el-quenita", "kenita", "los-queneos"]·SW["-Wakini", "Mkeni", "Wakeni", "kutoka-kwa-Kaini"]·TR["-Kenileri", "-Kenili'ye", "-Kenliler", "Kenili", "Kenililerin", "de-Kenili", "de-Kenilinin", "den-Kayin"]·urd["قین-سے", "قینی", "قینی-کے", "قینیوں-کے", "ہ-قینیم"]
Gen 15:19, Num 24:21, Judg 1:16, Judg 4:11, Judg 4:11, Judg 4:17, Judg 4:17, Judg 5:24, 1 Sam 15:6, 1 Sam 15:6, 1 Sam 27:10, 1 Sam 30:29 (+1 more)
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† קֵינִי adj.gent. of ii. קַיִן 1 (q.v.), חֶבֶר הַקּ׳ (dwelling in N. Isr.), ὁ Κειναῖος, Ju 4:11, 17(×2); 5:24 (against WMM Jen, who ref. ק׳ here to city Kîn near Megiddo, mentioned by Egyptian, v. especially Bu Now on 4:11); read prob. also חֹבָב הַקּ׳ 1:16 (for בְּנֵי ק׳; so Bu GFM; 𝔊 οἱ υἱοὶ Ιοθορ τοῦ Κειναίου); elsewhere as n. gent. coll. הַקּ׳ settled among Amal., Nu 24:21 (JE; v. ii. קַיִן…