Who was Jekamiah in the Bible?

Jekamiah was a descendant of Judah through his son Shelah and grandson Shallum, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2:41. He is listed as the son of Shallum and the father of Elishama, placing him within the royal lineage.

What is the significance of Jekamiah?

His significance lies in his inclusion in the genealogical record, which preserves the lineage of the tribe of Judah leading to King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. While no specific events of his life are recorded, his name confirms the continuity of God's covenant promises through this family line.

Are there any key events in Jekamiah's life?

The Bible records no specific events or key verses about Jekamiah's personal life or actions. His entire biblical mention is his name within the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:41, which focuses on his familial position rather than his deeds.

Jekamiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Jekamiah was a descendant of Judah through Shallum, as recorded in the genealogy in 1 Chronicles.

Jekamiah

Biography

This Jekamiah was a member of the tribe of Judah, appearing in 1 Chronicles 2:41 as the son of Shallum and the father of Elishama within the genealogical branch descending from Jerahmeel. The Jerahmeelite clan occupied territory in the Negev south of Judah and maintained connections with the broader Judahite community. Jekamiah's position in this genealogy places him within a lateral branch of Judah's tribal tree, distinct from the direct line of David but part of the broader network of families through which Judah's tribal identity was sustained across generations. The Chronicler's inclusion of these secondary genealogical lines reflects a comprehensive interest in the full extent of the covenant community's human heritage beyond the royal and priestly lineages.

Significance

Jekamiah of Judah, recorded in 1 Chronicles 2:41, represents the Chronicler's expansive vision of covenant community, one that extends beyond the prominent royal and priestly lineages to encompass the wider network of tribal families who together constituted God's people. The Jerahmeelite branch of Judah occupied a peripheral geographic and social position, yet the faithfulness of families like Jekamiah's in maintaining their genealogical identity contributed to the integrity of the tribal structure. His inclusion reminds readers that God's covenant embraces the full breadth of Israel's families, and that faithful continuity across generations, even in relative obscurity, is itself a meaningful form of covenantal witness.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:41

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