Father of King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin who lived during Israel’s united kingdom.
About Kish
A Benjamite from Gibeah, father of King Saul and a man of importance in his town (1 Samuel 9:1). His ancestry is traced for four generations. So is Elkanah's, the father of Samuel, who would anoint Saul king (1 Samuel 1:1).
Kish's family details are somewhat unclear. His father’s name is listed as Abiel in 1 Samuel 9:1. If the Kish mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:30 is the same person, then Abiel was also known as Jeiel. But it may be that this second Kish was an uncle of Saul’s father. In 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39, Ner, not Abiel, is said to be the father of Kish. Yet in 1 Samuel 14:51, Abiel is said to be the father of two sons whose names were Ner and Kish. The solution is that the Ner in Chronicles was an earlier ancestor, probably Abiel's father or grandfather. If so, then, the father-son relationship between Ner and Kish should be taken in an extended sense, as elsewhere in the Old Testament. No other details of Kish’s life are available. His grave was in Zela of Benjamin (2 Samuel 21:14). The King James Version spells his name Cis in Acts 13:21.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Abiel (Grandfather of King Saul), Maacah (1 Chronicles 8:29)
- Siblings 9
- Ner, Abdon (Son of Jeiel), Zur (1 Chronicles 8:30), Baal, Nadab (1 Chronicles 8:30), Gedor, Ahio (1 Chronicles 8:31), Zecher, Mikloth
- Child
- Saul (Son of Kish)
- Nieces & Nephews 2
- Abner, Shimeah
Key References
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
All Scripture References (13)
1 Samuel (5)
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
When all those who had formerly known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
2 Samuel (1)
And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.
1 Chronicles (6)
and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle;
Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.
Acts (1)
Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.