כַּרְמִי (kar.mi)
kar.mi
Carmi
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Carmi means "my vineyard" and appears in Scripture as a personal name for two distinct men. In Genesis 46:9, he is listed as one of the sons of Reuben, making him a patriarch of the tribe during the family’s time in Egypt. This same individual is also called the Carmite in Numbers 26:12, where his descendants are identified by this ancestral title.
A second man named Carmi appears later in Joshua 7:1 as the father of Achan, the Israelite who took forbidden goods from Jericho. Here, the name links a specific family line to the crisis that brought judgment upon Israel. The repetition of the name across generations highlights how personal identities remained tied to their meanings within the tribal structure.
Though the word itself describes a vineyard, it functions here strictly as a proper noun. It does not carry metaphorical weight about agriculture or blessing in these contexts. Instead, it serves as a marker of lineage, connecting individuals to their fathers and tribes through simple, memorable names that reflected everyday life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Carmi, meaning 'my vineyard,' appears in Scripture as a marker of lineage rather than a metaphor for spiritual fruitfulness. It identifies two distinct men: one listed among the sons of Reuben in Genesis and Chronicles, and another named as the father of Achan in Joshua. In these contexts, the word functions strictly as a proper noun, anchoring individuals within their tribal structures and family histories.
While the root word evokes images of cultivation and harvest, its use here highlights how personal identities were tied to everyday life and ancestral roots. The repetition of the name across generations shows that names carried meaning, yet they did not guarantee spiritual outcomes. Achan, son of Carmi, stands as a solemn reminder that belonging to a covenant community requires personal faithfulness.
For readers today, this word invites reflection on how our own identities are shaped by heritage and community. It reminds us that while we come from specific lines and histories, our standing before God depends on our individual choices and obedience. The name Carmi serves as a historical anchor, connecting us to the tangible reality of Israel’s past without imposing abstract spiritual lessons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Carmi4×
- Carmi3×
- of/ Carmi1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/כַרְמִֽי\׃2×
- לְ/כַרְמִ֕י1×
- כַּרְמִי֩1×
- כַּרְמִ֧י1×
- כַּרְמִ֑י1×
- וְ/כַרְמִ֖י1×
- וְ/כַרְמִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against the children of Israel.
This verse identifies Achan as the son of Carmi, linking the name directly to the crisis that brought judgment upon Israel for taking devoted things.
-
Genesis 46:9
The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Here Carmi is listed among the sons of Reuben, establishing his role as a patriarch in the family line entering Egypt.
-
Numbers 26:6
of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
The text refers to 'the family of the Carmites,' showing how the name evolved into a tribal designation for descendants.