שֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ (she.lem.yah)
she.lem.yah
Shelemiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shelemiah, meaning "repaid by Jehovah," appears ten times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the historical books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah. It is not a common personal name but serves as a marker for several distinct individuals during the turbulent periods of the Exile and the subsequent Return to Jerusalem.
Lexical sources identify these men through their specific roles in the community’s restoration or crisis. In Ezra 10:39, a Shelemiah is listed among those who ended their foreign marriages, signaling a commitment to religious purity. Another holds a priestly office overseeing the treasury under Nehemiah, while a third repairs sections of Jerusalem’s walls. The name also surfaces in Jeremiah, where it identifies the father of Irijah, the captain who arrested the prophet, and the ancestor of Jehudi, the messenger who delivered Jeremiah’s scroll to King Jehoiakim.
The recurrence of this name across different generations highlights a family or clan deeply embedded in Judah’s political and religious life. Whether acting as a temple treasurer, a wall builder, or a relative of royal officials, each Shelemiah reflects the complex social fabric of the time. The meaning "repaid by Jehovah" offers a poignant contrast to the historical context; while these men faced the consequences of national failure, their names remember divine justice and covenant faithfulness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shelemiah carries the meaning "repaid by Jehovah." In a world where justice often feels delayed or absent, this name serves as a quiet reminder that God sees every action and responds with perfect fairness. It is not merely about punishment, but about the restoration of order and covenant faithfulness in the lives of His people.
Throughout the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah, several individuals bear this name during times of national crisis. Some are listed among those who chose religious purity by ending foreign marriages. Others serve as temple treasurers or repair the walls of Jerusalem. Their stories show that ordinary believers played vital roles in restoring their community when everything seemed broken.
Even in moments of fear, such as when Jeremiah was arrested or his scroll was hidden, these men were part of a larger narrative where God’s purposes prevailed. This name invites us to trust that our efforts to do right and serve others are seen by God, who ultimately brings balance and peace to all things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shelemiah7×
- and/ Shelemiah2×
- to/ Shelemiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֶׁלֶמְיָ֨ה1×
- שֶׁלֶמְיָ֣הוּ1×
- שֶׁלֶמְיָ֗ה1×
- שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֙הוּ֙1×
- שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֗ה1×
- שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֖ה1×
- שֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּ1×
- לְ/שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֑הוּ1×
- וְ/שֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ1×
- וְ/שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 10:39
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
This verse lists Shelemiah among those who ended their foreign marriages, highlighting a personal commitment to religious purity during the post-exilic restoration.
-
Nehemiah 13:13
I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
Here Shelemiah is appointed as a priestly treasurer, showing his trusted role in managing the temple's resources for the community's benefit.
-
Jeremiah 36:26
The king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Yahweh hid them.
Shelemiah son of Abdeel is commanded by the king to arrest the prophet Jeremiah, illustrating the political tensions and dangers faced by those faithful to God's word.
-
Jeremiah 37:3
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to Yahweh our God for us.”
Jehucal, identified as the son of Shelemiah, is sent by King Zedekiah to seek prayer from Jeremiah, indicating that even royal officials recognized the prophet's spiritual authority.