קְמוּאֵל
Kemuel, the name of a relative of Abraham, and of two Israelites
Definition
Kemuel (קְמוּאֵל) is a proper name meaning 'raised of God' or 'God has risen.' It appears in three distinct contexts in the Old Testament. First, in Genesis 22:21, Kemuel is identified as the son of Nahor (Abraham's brother) and the father of Aram, linking him to the Aramean peoples. Second, in Numbers 34:24, a different Kemuel from the tribe of Ephraim is listed as a leader appointed to help divide the Promised Land. Third, in 1 Chronicles 27:17, another Kemuel is noted as a Levite, the father of Hashabiah, who served during King David's reign.
Biblical Usage
The name Kemuel is used exclusively as a personal name for three different individuals across three biblical books. In Genesis 22:21, it appears in a genealogical list of Abraham's relatives. In Numbers 34:24, it identifies a tribal leader from Ephraim involved in the land distribution. In 1 Chronicles 27:17, it names a Levite in a list of David's officials. The usage shows the name was employed in both early patriarchal and later monarchical periods, applied to individuals from different tribes (Aramean, Ephraimite, Levite).
Etymology
The name Kemuel is a compound word derived from the Hebrew root קוּם (qûm, H6965), meaning 'to arise' or 'to stand up,' and אֵל (ʼēl, H410), the common word for 'God.' Thus, it literally translates to 'raised of God' or 'God has risen.' It is a theophoric name, incorporating the divine element 'El,' common in Hebrew names to express a relationship or action attributed to God.
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'raised of God,' Kemuel subtly reflects the biblical theme of divine initiative and blessing in the establishment of families and leadership. The name, borne by individuals in key moments—patriarchal lineage (Genesis 22:21), conquest of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:24), and Davidic administration (1 Chronicles 27:17)—serves as a small reminder that God raises up people for His purposes throughout salvation history. Understanding its meaning enriches reading by adding a layer of divine acknowledgment to these otherwise minor characters.
In ancient Israelite and Near Eastern culture, names were often descriptive and carried significant meaning, sometimes reflecting circumstances of birth or parental hopes. A name like Kemuel ('raised of God') likely expressed the parents' gratitude or attribution of the child's life to God's power. The use of the divine element 'El' connects the individual to the broader Canaanite/Israelite religious milieu where El was a primary title for the high god.
Eliab (ʼEliʼab, H446) — Means 'My God is father,' another theophoric name using 'El.' Gamaliel (Gamliyʼel, H1583) — Means 'reward of God,' also a compound with 'El.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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