Who was Imri in the Bible?

Imri was a descendant of Perez from the tribe of Judah. He is listed among the people who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:4, 1 Chronicles 9:4).

Why is Imri mentioned in the Bible?

Imri's mention, though brief, is significant as it documents the faithful remnant of Judah who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild. His lineage connects him to the royal line of King David through Perez (Ruth 4:18-22).

What did Imri do in the Bible?

The Bible records no specific actions for Imri. His primary role was as a settler who obeyed the call to return from exile and re-establish the community in Jerusalem, as recorded in the genealogical lists.

Imri

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned from exile

Imri, a descendant of Perez from the tribe of Judah, was among those who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

Imri

Biography

Imri was a descendant of Perez from the tribe of Judah who settled in Jerusalem following the return from Babylonian exile in the late sixth and fifth centuries BC. He is listed in the genealogy of Nehemiah 11:4, which records the families of Judah and Benjamin who took up residence in the holy city as part of Nehemiah's resettlement program. Imri's line traced back through Zerah and Omri to the prominent Judahite subdivision descended from Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar. His resettlement in Jerusalem represented a significant act of communal commitment, as the returned exiles were encouraged, and sometimes required by lot, to inhabit the repopulated capital.

Significance

Imri's repopulation of Jerusalem after the exile embodies the fulfillment of prophetic hope for Israel's restoration. His Perezite lineage connects him directly to the royal tribe of Judah, through whose line the messianic promises were preserved. Nehemiah 11 frames the resettlement of Jerusalem as an act of devotion, with those who volunteered to live in the city being blessed by the people (Nehemiah 11:2). Imri's presence among these settlers demonstrates how ordinary individuals participated in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan by choosing faithfulness in the practical work of national and spiritual rebuilding.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 9:4

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources