שִׁמְאָה (shim.ah)
shim.ah
Shimeah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shimah, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at 1 Chronicles 8:32, identifies a specific individual from the tribe of Benjamin during the era of the divided monarchy. He is recorded as the son of Mikloth and is noted in parallel genealogical lists under the variant spelling Shimeam (1 Chronicles 9:38). This single occurrence places him within the detailed lineage records that chroniclers preserved to trace tribal heritage.
Linguistically, the name derives from a root meaning "report" or "hearing." While this etymology might suggest a connection to news or reputation, in this context it functions primarily as a personal identifier for a Benjamite family line. The variation between Shimah and Shimeam reflects common textual shifts in ancient Hebrew names without altering the core identity of the ancestor.
As a proper noun, Shimah carries no independent theological weight outside its genealogical function. Its significance lies entirely in its role within the biblical record of Israel’s tribal structure, offering a glimpse into the administrative and historical efforts to maintain clear family lines during the post-exilic period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shimah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 8:32. It identifies a man from the tribe of Benjamin, linking him to his father Mikloth and noting that his family lived in Jerusalem near their relatives.
While this single mention might seem like just a name on a list, it points to God’s careful preservation of His people. The Chronicler recorded these lines to show that even ordinary families were part of Israel’s story. For you, this reminds us that every person matters to God, and no one is forgotten in His plan.
Though Shimah has no major theological message attached to his name, his inclusion shows that God values the details of human life. It encourages us to trust that our own stories, however small they may seem, are known and held by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shimeah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁמְאָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 8:32
and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their families in Jerusalem, near their relatives.
This verse records Shimah as the son of Mikloth, anchoring him within the Benjaminite lineage that lived in Jerusalem.