Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן
Son of Jacob and Leah, one of the twelve tribes.
Biography
Simeon was the second son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and Leah, born after Reuben (Gen.29.33). He was one of the twelve sons of Jacob who became the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Simeon, along with his brother Levi, took violent revenge against the Shechemites for the rape of their sister Dinah (Gen.34.25-30). This action was condemned by their father, Jacob (Gen.49.5-7).
When Joseph's brothers went to Egypt during the famine, Joseph took Simeon as a hostage until they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin (Gen.42.24,36; 43.23). Simeon was later released and returned to Canaan with his brothers (Gen.46.10).
The tribe of Simeon, descended from Simeon, was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. During the wilderness wanderings, the tribe of Simeon was led by Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai (Num.1.6; 2.12; 7.36; 10.19). The tribe's territory was located within the boundaries of Judah in the Negev (Jos.19.1,9; Jdg.1.3,17).
In later history, some from the tribe of Simeon migrated to Edom during the reign of Hezekiah (1Ch.4.42-43). The tribe is mentioned in the visions of Ezekiel (Ezk.48.24,25,33) and in the list of the sealed from the twelve tribes in Revelation (Rev.7.7).
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Reuben Tribe of ReubenSon of IsraelFirstborn son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Levi Tribe of LeviSon of IsraelSon of Jacob; progenitor of the LevitesView full profile →
- Judah Tribe of JudahSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, kingdom, and provinceView full profile →
- Dan Tribe of DanSon of IsraelFifth son of Jacob, founder of Israelite tribeView full profile →
- Naphtali Tribe of NaphtaliSon of IsraelSon of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali.View full profile →
- Gad Tribe of GadSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe; descended from Gad, son of Jacob.View full profile →
- Asher Tribe of AsherSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Zilpah, founder of the tribe of AsherView full profile →
- Issachar Tribe of IssacharSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Leah, forefather of tribeView full profile →
- Zebulun Tribe of ZebulunSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Dinah Early PatriarchJacob's daughterDaughter of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Joseph Early PatriarchJacob's sonSon of Jacob, ruler in EgyptView full profile →
- Benjamin Tribe of BenjaminSon of IsraelYoungest son of Jacob and RachelView full profile →
Partners
Offspring
- Jemuel Tribe of SimeonSon of SimeonSon of Simeon, also known as Nemuel.View full profile →
- Jamin Tribe of JudahSon of RamSon of Ram, descendant of JudahView full profile →
- Ohad Tribe of SimeonSon of SimeonSon of SimeonView full profile →
- Jachin MaleHead of a priestly division during David's reign.View full profile →
- Zerah Tribe of LeviSon of IddoLevite of the Gershonite clanView full profile →
- Shaul Tribe of LeviSon of UzziahLevite descendant of KohathView full profile →
In Scripture
9 biblical books ; 5 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 29:33
"She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 34:25
"On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 34:30
"Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number. They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and my house.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 35:23
"The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 42:24
"He turned himself away from them, and wept. Then he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes."
Study Genesis →
Exodus 2 verses
- Exodus 1:2
"Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 6:15
"The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon."
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Numbers 5 verses
- Numbers 1:6
"Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."
- Numbers 1:22
"Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those who were counted of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war:"
- Numbers 1:23
"those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred."
- Numbers 2:12
"“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."
- Numbers 7:36
"On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon,"
Deuteronomy 1 verse
- Deuteronomy 27:12
"“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."
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Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 19:1
"The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Judah."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 19:8
"and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 19:9
"Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the middle of their inheritance."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:9
"They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name:"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:4
"The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin."
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Judges 2 verses
- Judges 1:3
"Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot.” So Simeon went with him."
- Judges 1:17
"Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעוֹן | H8095G |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | שִׁמְעוֹן | H8095G |
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעֹנִי | H8099 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | שִׁמְעֹנִי | H8099 |
| Greek | Greek | Συμεών | G4826J |