Who was Shemaiah in the Bible?

Shemaiah was a man listed in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, specifically as a descendant of King Solomon (1 Chronicles 3:22). He is mentioned only briefly in the biblical record, with no details given about his life or actions.

Why is Shemaiah mentioned in the Bible?

Shemaiah is mentioned to preserve the genealogical line from King Solomon, which was crucial for establishing lineage and heritage in Israel. His inclusion connects the royal line of David and Solomon to later generations, maintaining the historical record (1 Chronicles 3:10-24).

What did Shemaiah do in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events or deeds from Shemaiah's life. His significance comes solely from his place in the genealogy, which traces the lineage of Judah's kings and, ultimately, points toward the coming Messiah from the line of David.

Shemaiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of shecaniah

Shemaiah, a descendant of King Solomon, mentioned twice in the genealogy.

Shemaiah

Biography

Shemaiah son of Shecaniah appears in the royal genealogy of the Davidic line preserved in 1 Chronicles 3:21–22, listed twice in the text as a descendant of King Solomon through the post-exilic branch of the family. He was the son of Shecaniah and father of Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six sons in all, according to the Hebrew text. This genealogical entry places Shemaiah among the descendants of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah after the Babylonian captivity, situating him in the critical generation when the Davidic lineage was preserved during and after exile. Though no narrative details accompany his name, his inclusion affirms the unbroken continuity of the Davidic family through the exile.

Significance

Shemaiah's position in the post-exilic Davidic genealogy carries profound theological importance, as it documents the survival of the royal line through whom the Messianic promises would be fulfilled. God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:12–16) guaranteed that his dynasty would endure, and genealogical records like this one in 1 Chronicles 3 provide the evidentiary chain linking that promise to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12–16; Luke 3:27). The meticulous preservation of names like Shemaiah reflects the Chronicler's conviction that God's covenant faithfulness is traceable through history, even through periods of national catastrophe and exile.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 3:22

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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