יְרַחְמְאֵל
Jerachmeel, the name of three Israelites
Definition
Yᵉrachmᵉʼêl (Jerachmeel) is a proper name meaning 'God will compassionate' or 'May God have mercy.' In the Old Testament, it refers to three distinct individuals. The primary figure is Jerachmeel, a son of Hezron and descendant of Judah, whose lineage is detailed in 1 Chronicles 2:9, 25-27, 33, 42. A second Jerachmeel is mentioned as a descendant of Levi in 1 Chronicles 24:29. A third is a royal official of King Jehoiakim, who was commanded to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah in Jeremiah 36:26.
Biblical Usage
The name appears eight times, primarily in genealogical contexts within 1 Chronicles, establishing tribal lineages for Judah and Levi. The usage in 1 Chronicles 2 is extensive, tracing Jerachmeel's descendants as part of the Judahite clan. The single occurrence in Jeremiah 36:26 is narrative, identifying a member of the royal court during a period of prophetic conflict.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root רָחַם (rāḥam, H7355), meaning 'to love,' 'to have compassion,' or 'to have mercy,' combined with אֵל (ʼēl, H410), the common word for 'God.' The name is a compound theophoric name, expressing a hopeful statement or prayer: 'God will show compassion.'
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name, Jerachmeel embeds a core attribute of God—His compassionate mercy—into personal identity. It reflects the Israelite practice of naming children with declarations about God's character, serving as a constant reminder of divine grace and covenantal love. Understanding its meaning enriches reading by highlighting the personal faith and hope embedded in genealogical lists.
In ancient Israel, names often conveyed meaning about circumstances, hopes, or divine attributes. A name like Jerachmeel, invoking God's compassion, may have been given as a prayer or statement of faith, especially within the covenant tribe of Judah. Its use for both Judahite and Levite individuals shows the widespread theological concept of God's mercy across different Israelite clans.
Other Hebrew theophoric names with similar elements include: יְרַחְמְיָה (Yᵉrachmᵉyâh, H3398) — 'Yahweh will compassionate'; אֲבִירָם (ʼĂbîrâm, H48) — 'My father is exalted'; אֱלִישָׁמָע (ʼĔlîyshâmāʻ, H476) — 'God has heard'.
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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