Carmi כַּרְמִי
Son of Reuben; father of the Carmites
Who is Carmi in the Bible?
Carmi in the Bible refers to two individuals from the Old Testament. The primary Carmi was a son of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son, and he became the father of the Carmite clan within the tribe of Reuben (Genesis 46:9, Exodus 6:14, 1 Chronicles 5:3). The Carmites are listed among the families of Reuben in the wilderness census recorded in Numbers 26:6. A second, less prominent Carmi was a Judahite and the father of Achan, the man whose disobedience led to Israel's defeat at Ai (1 Chronicles 2:7, Joshua 7:1). Carmi's inclusion in the tribal genealogies reflects the biblical emphasis on family lineage and the structured organization of the Israelite tribes according to their ancestral descent.
Biography
Carmi was the son of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen.46.9; Exo.6.14; 1Ch.5.3). He was the progenitor of the Carmite clan within the tribe of Reuben (Num.26.6). The Carmites were one of the families descended from Reuben, as recorded in the census taken in the wilderness of Sinai and the plains of Moab. Carmi's inclusion in the genealogies of Reuben highlights the importance of family lineage and the organization of the Israelite tribes according to their ancestral heritage.
Family
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 46:9
"The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi."
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Exodus 1 verse
- Exodus 6:14
"These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben."
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Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:6
"the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 5:3
"The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | כַּרְמִי |
| Group | Hebrew | כַּרְמִי |
Carmi
ch Carmi was the head (Nu 26:6).
(2) A Judahite (1Ch 2:7), son of Zabdi, according to Jos 7:1, and father of Achan, who is given the name of "Achar" in 1Ch 2:7. This last form "Achar" is preferred to the usual "Achan" in order to bring out the play on the Hebrew word for "troubler." The Hebrew runs `akhar `okher yisra'el, "Achar, the troubler of Israel." As regards the phrase "the sons of Carmi" (1Ch 2:7), Carmi is probably to be taken as the son of Zimri (= Zabdi, Jos 7:1). The Targum, however, has "Carmi who is Zimri." The Septuagint identifies Zimri and Zabdi.
(3) In 1Ch 4:1, Carmi, elsewhere called son of Zabdi or Zimri, is made son of Judah; but Wellhausen correctly changes "Carmi" to "Chelubai" (compare 1Ch 2:9).
Horace J. Wolf
kar-mo'-ni-anz; the King James Version Carmanians: A people mentioned in one of the visions--"an horrible vision" (2 Esdras 15:30 ff)--of the "Apocalypse of Esdras." Their country, Carmania, was an extensive provin