Who is…
Simeon
also known as: Symeon and Simon
Hebrew: שִׁמְעוֹן —transliteration: Shimon —meaning: hearing; to hear —occurrences: 44 times
Greek: Συμεών —transliteration: Sumeón —occurrences: 7 times
This is the name of 5 biblical men.
Simeon, son of Jacob/Israel
He is the second son of Jacob by his wife Leah (Genesis 29:33). His descendants are called Simeonites.
He was associated with his brother Levi in a terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (Genesis 34:25-26).
He was detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage (42:24).
His father, when dying, pronounced a malediction against him because of his cruelty and rage.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel. —Gen. 49:5-7 NKJVThe words “they digged down a wall” in the King James Version ought to be, as correctly translated in the Revised King James Version “they houghed an ox” or in the New King James Version “hamstrung.”
More information
- What is the Tribe of Simeon?
Simeon at the Temple
This Simeon is a devout elderly man who visited the Herod’s Temple when young Jesus was being presented before the Lord, and uttered words of great thankgiving and of prophecy.
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” —Luke 2:25-35 NKJV
Simeon, a man in the lineage of Jesus Christ through Mary
Luke 3:30 lists this man as one of the ancestors of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and therefore in the legal lineage of Jesus.
Mary ← Heli (Eli) ← Matthat ← Levi ← Melchi ← Janna (Jannai) ← Joseph ← Mattathiah (Mattathias) ← Amos ← Nahum ← Esli ← Naggai ← Maath ← Mattathiah (Mattathias) ← Semei (Semein) ← Joseph (Yosef/Josech) ← Judah (Juda, Joda) ← Joannas (Joanna) ← Rhesa ← Zerubbabel ← Shealtiel ← Neri ← Melchi ← Addi ← Cosam ← Elmodam ← Er ← Jose (Joshua, Jesus) ← Eliezer ← Jorim ← Matthat ← Levi ← Simeon ← Judah ← Joseph ← Jonan ← Eliakim ← Melea ← Menan (Menna) ← Mattathah ← Nathan ← KING DAVID ← Jesse ← Obed ← Boaz ← Salmon ← Nahshon ← Amminadab ← Ram ← Hezron ← Perez ← Judah ← Jacob ← Isaac ← ABRAHAM ← Terah ← Nahor ← Serug (Saruch) ← Reu ← Peleg ← Eber ← Shelah ← Cainan ← Arphaxad ← Shem ← NOAH ← Lamech ← Methuselah ← Enoch ← Jared ← Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) ← Cainan ← Enosh (Enos) ← Seth ← ADAM (created by God).
Simeon Niger
Surnamed Niger, i.e., “black,” perhaps from his dark complexion, he is a teacher of some distinction in the Church of Antioch (Acts 13:1-3).
It has been supposed that this was the Simon of Cyrene who bore Christ’s cross. Note the number of nationalities represented in the church at Antioch.
Simeon, the Apostle Peter
More information
- Men in the Bible