Who was Shammua in the Bible?

Shammua, also called Shimea, was one of the sons of King David, born to him in Jerusalem after he became king (2 Samuel 5:14, 1 Chronicles 3:5). He was a prince of Israel, though the Bible provides few specific details about his life.

What is the significance of Shammua in David's story?

Shammua's birth signifies the establishment and blessing of David's royal dynasty in Jerusalem. As one of the sons born in the capital, he represents the fulfillment of God's promise to David and the continuation of his lineage.

Are Shammua and Shimea the same person?

Yes, Shammua and Shimea refer to the same son of David. The name appears as Shammua in 2 Samuel 5:14 and 1 Chronicles 14:4, and as Shimea in the lineage list of 1 Chronicles 3:5.

Shammua

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Shammua (or Shimea) was one of the sons of David born to him in Jerusalem.

Shammua

Biography

Shammua, also known as Shimea in some textual traditions, was born to David in Jerusalem, listed among the sons David fathered after he had consolidated his reign in the capital (2 Samuel 5:14; 1 Chronicles 3:5; 14:4). His mother was Bathsheba (also called Bathshua), the same woman who became prominent through the infamous episode with Uriah the Hittite. Shammua thus belonged to the royal generation that grew up in the splendor of David's Jerusalem court. While Scripture provides no independent narrative of Shammua's deeds or character, his membership in the Davidic royal household places him within the most theologically significant family line in the Hebrew Bible, the line through which God's eternal covenant with David would be fulfilled.

Significance

As a son of David born in Jerusalem, Shammua belongs to the royal household through which God's covenant promises ran their course toward ultimate fulfillment. The Davidic covenant, established in 2 Samuel 7, promised that one of David's descendants would sit on the throne forever, a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Even children of David who receive minimal narrative attention contribute to the genealogical and covenantal fabric of this promise. Moreover, Shammua's birth from Bathsheba places him within the complex human story of sin, forgiveness, and restoration that marks David's reign, reminding readers that God's redemptive purposes advance through genuinely human, and flawed, families.

Verse Appearances (3)

2Sam

2Sam 5:14

1Chr

1Chr 3:5 1Chr 14:4

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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