Who was Omri in the Bible?

The Bible mentions a man named Omri as a descendant of Judah who lived in Jerusalem after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. He is listed in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles, specifically as the son of Imri and father of Ammihud (1 Chronicles 9:4).

What is the significance of Omri in the Bible?

This Omri's significance is primarily genealogical, as he is part of the lineage connecting the tribe of Judah from the exile to the restoration period. His inclusion in the post-exilic records helped establish the continuity and legitimacy of the returning community in Jerusalem.

Is this Omri the same as the king of Israel?

No, this is a different person. The more famous King Omri ruled the northern kingdom of Israel and established Samaria as its capital (1 Kings 16:23-24). The Omri in 1 Chronicles 9:4 was a Judahite civilian living centuries later, after the exile.

Omri

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleSon of imri

Omri was a descendant of Judah who lived in Jerusalem after the exile.

Omri

Biography

Omri son of Imri was a descendant of the tribe of Judah who resettled in Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile. His name appears in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 9:4, which document the families who courageously returned to rebuild and repopulate the holy city after decades of desolation. The return from exile was a perilous and faith-demanding venture, Jerusalem lay in ruins, and resettlement required both physical labor and spiritual resolve. Omri belonged to the broader family of Perez, one of Judah's most significant ancestral lines, which maintained its identity through the exile and contributed personnel to the restoration community. His presence in Jerusalem helped reconstitute the tribal structure necessary for the renewed worship and civic life centered on the rebuilt temple.

Significance

Omri son of Imri embodies the faithfulness of those who answered the call to return from Babylonian captivity and restore Jerusalem. The post-exilic genealogies in which he appears are not mere lists but theological statements affirming that God preserved His people through judgment and exile. Each returning family represented a link in the chain of divine faithfulness stretching from the patriarchs through the monarchy, exile, and restoration. Omri's membership in the line of Perez connected him to the messianic lineage running through Judah. His willingness to resettle in a devastated Jerusalem demonstrates that God's redemptive purposes advance through ordinary people who respond in obedience, even when the circumstances appear discouraging.

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]

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