Shemariah
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Shemariah in the Bible?
The name Shemariah identifies several distinct biblical figures: a Benjamite warrior who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:6), a son of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18), and a member of the priestly line of Harim or the layman Bani who divorced his foreign wife during the Ezra reforms (Ezra 10:33; 1 Chronicles 9:13).
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing that Shemariah is a common name used for different individuals across various historical periods prevents chronological confusion and clarifies the specific genealogical or military context of each biblical passage.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Shemariah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Shemariah clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.