Gemariah גְּמַרְיָ֫הוּ
Son of Hilkiah; messenger sent by Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar.
Who is Gemariah in the Bible?
Gemariah was the son of Hilkiah and served as a messenger for King Zedekiah of Judah during the Babylonian exile. According to Jeremiah 29:3, Gemariah was sent along with Elasah son of Shaphan to deliver a letter to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The letter, written by the prophet Jeremiah, contained instructions for the Jewish exiles to settle in Babylon, build homes, plant gardens, and seek peace in their new homeland. Gemariah's appointment to this diplomatic mission reveals that he was a trusted official in Zedekiah's administration during a period when Judah was under Babylonian rule.
Biography
Gemariah, the son of Hilkiah, is mentioned in Jer.29.3 as one of the messengers sent by King Zedekiah of Judah to deliver a letter to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The letter was written by the prophet Jeremiah and contained a message to the exiles in Babylon, urging them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, and seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they were living (Jer.29.4-7). Gemariah, along with Elasah the son of Shaphan, was entrusted with delivering this important message. The fact that Zedekiah sent messengers to Nebuchadnezzar suggests that Judah was under Babylonian rule at the time and that the king was attempting to maintain diplomatic relations with the Babylonian empire. Gemariah's role as a messenger indicates that he was a trusted official in Zedekiah's court.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 29:3
"The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גְּמַרְיָ֫הוּ |