Lexical Summary
Shimi: Shimei
Original Word:שִׁמְעִי
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Shim`iy
Pronunciation:shim-EE
Phonetic Spelling:(shim-ee')
KJV: Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi
NASB:Shimei
Word Origin:[fromH8088 (שֵׁמַע - report)]
1. famous
2. Shimi, the name of twenty Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shimeah, Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi
Fromshema'; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty Israelites -- Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi.
see HEBREWshema'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
shamaDefinitionthe name of a number of Isr.
NASB TranslationShimei (44).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
43 usually :
2 Samuel 16:5,7,13;2 Samuel 19:17;2 Samuel 19:19;2 Samuel 19:22;2 Samuel 19:24,1 Kings 2:8 10t. 1Kings 2..
1 Kings 1:8, perhaps =1 Kings 4:18.
1 Chronicles 27:27.
Exodus 6:17;Numbers 3:18;1 Chronicles 6:2;1 Chronicles 23:7,9,10 (twice in verse)
1 Chronicles 6:14.
v.1 Chronicles 6:27.
1 Chronicles 25:17.
2Chronicles 29:14.
2Chronicles 31:12,13.
Ezra 10:23.
1 Chronicles 3:19.
1 Chronicles 4:26,27.
1 Chronicles 5:4.
1 Chronicles 8:13 #NAME?1 Chronicles 8:13.
Ezra 10:33.
Ezra 10:38 (compare above).
Esther 2:5.
2 Samuel 21:21 Kt (Qr q. v. ).
Topical Lexicon
Occurrences and OverviewShimei (Strong’s H8096) appears about forty-four times in the Old Testament and refers to numerous individuals who span the wilderness wanderings, united and divided monarchies, the exile, and the restoration. Together they provide a cross-section of Israel’s worship, administration, obedience and rebellion.
Levitical Lines
1. Son of Gershon (Numbers 3:18;1 Chronicles 6:17). His clan carried the tabernacle curtains and coverings (Numbers 3:25–26), showing the essential place of ordered worship.
2. A later Gershonite Shimei active in David’s reorganization of the Levites (1 Chronicles 23:7-11; 24:20-22). His descendants helped “prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1).
3. Son of Heman who assisted Hezekiah’s temple cleansing (2 Chronicles 29:14).
4. Treasurer during Hezekiah’s reforms (2 Chronicles 31:12-13).
Each Levitical Shimei highlights faithfulness in safeguarding worship from Moses through the kings.
Shimei Son of Gera—David’s Adversary
• Cursing David: “A man of the family of Saul whose name was Shimei son of Gera came out… and he cursed continually” (2 Samuel 16:5-13).
• David’s restraint: “Let him curse, for the LORD has told him” (16:11).
• Plea for mercy after Absalom’s defeat (2 Samuel 19:16-23). David swore, “You shall not die.”
• Final judgment: Solomon confined him to Jerusalem; breaking that oath cost him his life (1 Kings 2:36-46).
The narrative balances royal mercy with inevitable justice when repentance proves shallow.
Royal Administration and Agriculture
• Shimei the Ramathite managed David’s vineyards (1 Chronicles 27:27).
• Shimei son of Elah governed Benjamin in Solomon’s twelve-district system (1 Kings 4:18).
Both illustrate that covenant service extends to economic and civic spheres.
Benjamite Genealogies
Multiple Benjamites carry the name (1 Chronicles 8:5, 12, 19, 21; 9:3-7). One fathered “sixteen sons and six daughters” (1 Chronicles 4:27), demonstrating God’s blessing of fruitfulness even within a war-torn tribe.
Reubenite and Simeonite References
A Reubenite Shimei appears in the line of Joel (1 Chronicles 5:4), and a Simeonite chief named Shimei leads territorial expansion toward Seir (1 Chronicles 4:26-37).
Post-Exilic Shemeis
• Levites who had married foreign wives (Ezra 10:23).
• Additional offenders from other clans (Ezra 10:33, 38).
• Wall-builder in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:23) and gatekeeper/singer (Nehemiah 12:34-36).
Their presence in reform lists underscores renewed holiness and service after exile.
Spiritual Themes
1. Mercy and Justice—David’s clemency versus Solomon’s final sentence shows both divine patience and eventual reckoning (Galatians 6:7).
2. Hearing and Obedience—Levite Shemeis obeyed the call to worship; Shimei son of Gera ignored the king’s warning.
3. Covenant Stewardship—From carrying curtains to governing vineyards, the name recurs among those entrusted with God-given responsibilities.
4. Typological Pointer—David’s response to Shimei prefigures Christ’s meekness (1 Peter 2:23), while Shimei’s execution foreshadows judgment on persistent rebellion.
Practical Implications
• Hidden or public, every task done for God matters (Colossians 3:23-24).
• Integrity in oaths protects; breaking them invites discipline (Proverbs 10:9).
• God records both the insults of an enemy and the faithfulness of a servant, encouraging believers to persevere in righteousness.
Summary
Across priestly duty, royal intrigue and post-exilic renewal, each Shimei illustrates aspects of covenant privilege, responsibility and accountability. The record calls God’s people to reverent worship, truthful speech and steadfast obedience to the true and greater King.
Forms and Transliterations
וְשִׁמְעִ֑י וְשִׁמְעִ֖י וְשִׁמְעִ֗י וְשִׁמְעִ֡י וְשִׁמְעִ֣י וְשִׁמְעִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִֽי׃ וּלְשִׁמְעִ֞י ולשמעי ושמעי ושמעי׃ לְשִׁמְעִ֔י לְשִׁמְעִ֗י לְשִׁמְעִי֙ לשמעי שִֽׁמְעִ֨י שִׁמְעִ֑י שִׁמְעִ֔י שִׁמְעִ֖י שִׁמְעִ֗י שִׁמְעִ֛י שִׁמְעִ֣י שִׁמְעִ֤י שִׁמְעִ֥י שִׁמְעִ֧י שִׁמְעִֽי׃ שִׁמְעָ֖ה שמעה שמעי שמעי׃ lə·šim·‘î leshimI ləšim‘î shimAh shimI šim‘āh šim‘î šim·‘āh šim·‘î ū·lə·šim·‘î uleshimI ūləšim‘î veshimI wə·šim·‘î wəšim‘î
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