People of the Bible · Tribe of Simeon

Simeon, son of Israel

The name Simeon means “that hears or obeys; that is heard.” Simeon is mentioned in 40 verses of the Bible, first in Genesis 29:33.

Family of Simeon

Father

Mother

Siblings

Half-siblings

Children

Who was Simeon?

The second son of Jacob by Leah (Gen. 29:33). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26). He was detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage (42:24). His father, when dying, pronounced a malediction against him (49:5-7). The words in the Authorized Version (49:6), “they digged down a wall,” ought to be, as correctly rendered in the Revised Version, “they houghed an ox.”

Biography adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain, linked via Theographic Bible Metadata.

Key verses about Simeon

  • Genesis 29:33

    And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

  • Genesis 35:23

    The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

  • Genesis 48:5

    And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

  • Genesis 49:5

    Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

  • Exodus 1:2

    Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

  • Joshua 19:1

    And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

Timeline of Simeon's life

DateEvent
1756 BCBirth of Simeon
1727 BCJoseph sold to Egypt
1707 BC7 years of famine
1705 BCJoseph's brothers return to Egypt
All 40 verses mentioning Simeon

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