Meaning & History
Ieremahel is a Latin form of the Hebrew name Jerahmeel, appearing in the Latin Old Testament (the Vulgate). The name Jerahmeel itself derives from the Hebrew elements raḥam meaning "to pity" and ʾel meaning "God," yielding the meaning "God will have pity."
Etymology
Ieremahel is a direct Latin transliteration of the Hebrew Yeraḥmeʾel, preserving the consonant structure while adapting it to Latin orthography. Other similar Biblical Latin forms include Ierameel, and the original Hebrew form is Yerachme'el. In the Greek Septuagint, the name appears as Ierameel.
Cultural and Religious Context
In the Old Testament, Jerahmeel is a relatively obscure name borne by a few minor characters, such as a son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:9) and a son of Kish (1 Chronicles 24:29). The Latin Vulgate, commissioned by Jerome in the late 4th century, rendered Hebrew names into Latin forms like Ieremahel, which were then used in the Western Christian tradition.
Key Facts
- Meaning: "God will have pity"
- Origin: Hebrew, via Latin
- Type: First name
- Usage: Latin Bible (Vulgate)