Meaning & History
Shimei is a biblical name of Hebrew origin, found in the Old Testament and used in English Bible contexts. It is derived from the Hebrew root shamaʿ, meaning "to hear, to listen," reflecting a connection to divine attentiveness or obedience. The name appears in several forms across languages, such as Shimon in Hebrew and Simon in Greek-derived forms.
Etymology and Variations
The Hebrew שִׁמְעִי (Šīmʿī) is directly related to the verb shamaʿ. In the Bible, it is a short form of names like Shemaiah ("Yahweh has heard") and is equivalent to Simon in later usage. The name appears in the Old Testament for multiple individuals, and in the New Testament, it is rendered as Semei in the King James Version (Luke 3:26).
Notable Bearers in Scripture
The most prominent Shimei is Shimei ben Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, described in 2 Samuel as "a man of the family of the house of Saul." He accosted King David during his flight from Absalom, cursing and throwing stones (2 Samuel 16:5–14). After David's return, Shimei begged for mercy and won forgiveness (2 Samuel 19:16–23), though David later instructed Solomon on his deathbed to punish him (1 Kings 2:8–9). Solomon subsequently confined Shimei to Jerusalem and executed him for violating the terms (1 Kings 2:36–46).
Another Shimei was a Levite, the second son of Gershon and grandson of Levi (Exodus 6:17; Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17). His descendants formed the Shimeite clan, noted in Numbers 3:18, 21; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11; and Zechariah 12:13. The spelling in 1 Chronicles 23:9 may reflect a scribal error.
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Shimei