Lexical Summary
Mibsam: Mibsam
Original Word:מִבְשָׂם
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Mibsam
Pronunciation:MIB-sam
Phonetic Spelling:(mib-sawm')
KJV: Mibsam
NASB:Mibsam
Word Origin:[from the same asH1314 (בֶּשֶׂם בּוֹשֶׂם - spices)]
1. fragrant
2. Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Mibsam
From the same asbesem; fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite -- Mibsam.
see HEBREWbesem
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
bosemDefinitiona son of Ishmael, also a Simeonite
NASB TranslationMibsam (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Genesis 25:13 =
1 Chronicles 1:29.
1 Chronicles 4:25.
Topical Lexicon
Etymology and Thematic MeaningMibsam carries the idea of pleasant aroma or fragrance. In biblical thought, sweet fragrance often symbolizes favor, acceptance, or a life pleasing to God (Exodus 29:18;2 Corinthians 2:15). Although Mibsam is a personal name rather than a cultic term, its semantic undertone interweaves with themes of worship and covenant blessing.
Occurrences and Genealogical Context
1.Genesis 25:13 lists Mibsam as the fourth-born of the twelve sons of Ishmael. These twelve princes fulfilled the promise spoken to Abraham: “I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will be the father of twelve rulers” (Genesis 17:20).
2.1 Chronicles 1:29 repeats the Ishmaelite genealogy for post-exilic readers, underscoring the historic reliability of earlier records.
3.1 Chronicles 4:25 introduces another Mibsam, a great-grandson of Simeon (through Shaul and Shallum). His placement within the Simeonite clan demonstrates that the same name arose independently in different tribal settings.
Historical Setting
Ishmael’s descendants populated the Arabian wilderness, becoming notable caravan traders (Genesis 37:25-28) and border dwellers southeast of Israel. Mibsam, as one of Ishmael’s “twelve princes according to their tribes” (Genesis 25:16), would have headed a clan whose tents and livestock roamed the northern Arabian corridor.
The Simeonite Mibsam lived in the southern hill country of Judah (Joshua 19:1-9) where Simeon shared territory with Judah.1 Chronicles 4:38-43 describes Simeonite expansion toward Mount Seir during the reign of Hezekiah, hinting that clans such as Mibsam’s contributed to that migration.
Theological Significance
1. Covenant Faithfulness: The double attestation of Mibsam in both Ishmael’s and Simeon’s lines reinforces God’s meticulous preservation of genealogical detail. His faithfulness extends to all branches of Abraham’s family, whether through Isaac or Ishmael (Genesis 21:13).
2. Unity of Scripture: The Chronicler’s repetition of the Genesis record links pre-exilic and post-exilic generations, affirming an unbroken narrative thread.
3. Typology of Fragrance: Just as incense rose acceptably in the tabernacle, so the lives of God’s people are to emit a “fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2). The name Mibsam quietly reminds readers that every person, even one known only from genealogical lists, is called to reflect a pleasing fragrance before the Lord.
Ministry and Devotional Application
• Hidden Lives, Lasting Impact: Mibsam never performs a recorded exploit, yet his name endures in Scripture. God values faithfulness in obscurity; the believer’s worth is not measured by public acclaim but by covenant standing.
• Prayer for Spiritual Fragrance: As Mibsam means “sweet aroma,” so Christians pray that their words and deeds will be “the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).
• Embracing the Broader Family of Faith: The Ishmaelite and Simeonite bearers of the same name invite reflection on God’s redemptive concern for every lineage descending from Abraham. This widens the church’s missional outlook toward related peoples who have yet to recognize the promised Seed (Genesis 22:18;Galatians 3:16).
Forms and Transliterations
וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃ ומבשם׃ מִבְשָׂ֥ם מבשם miḇ·śām miḇśām mivSam ū·miḇ·śām ūmiḇśām umivSam
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