1 Kings 4:18 — Word Study
WLCשִׁמְעִ֥י בֶן־ אֵלָ֖א בְּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ ס
BSAShimeiShimʻîy [son of the right hand, a common Israelite name] sonbên [descendant, offspring] of ElaʼÊlâʼ△ [an Israelite leader, father of Shimei] in BenjaminBinyâmîyn [son of the right hand, a tribe of Israel, the youngest son of Jacob]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְעִ֥י | Shimei | Noun proper masculine |
| בֶן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אֵלָ֖א | Ela | Noun proper masculine |
| בְּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ ס | in Benjamin | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin; |
| KJV | Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin: |
| ASV | Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; |
| YLT | Shimei Ben-Elah [is] in Benjamin. |
| WEB | Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; |
| BBE | Shimei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin; |
The translations agree on the identification of Shimei and his lineage — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase providing additional context.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 4 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 4:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Solomon's Officialsgenerated
1 Kings 4:18 lists the officials appointed by King Solomon, highlighting their tribal affiliations and roles within the kingdom. This verse specifically mentions Shimei, who is from the tribe of Benjamin, emphasizing the organization of leadership during Solomon's reign. The context shows how Solomon structured his government with representatives from various tribes, ensuring a balanced administration across Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 1:8 | But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah. |
| 2 | Zechariah 12:13 | the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, |
| 3 | Joshua 18:20–28 | On the east side the border was the Jordan. These were the borders around the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׁמְעִי, shim.'Igenerated
The name שִׁמְעִי (*Shim'i*) is a proper masculine noun meaning 'renowned'. It appears 43 times in the Old Testament, often associated with notable figures, including a brother of David. The parsing indicates it is a noun proper, emphasizing its role as a personal name.
Shimei's name reflects a common naming practice among Israelites, linking him to his heritage. The name suggests a person of significance, as it is used for multiple individuals in the biblical narrative, particularly from the tribes of Benjamin and Levi.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin appearing in the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse centers around a noun phrase, with שִׁמְעִי as the subject followed by a prepositional phrase indicating his lineage and location. The finite verb is implied, linking Shimei to his father and tribe.
This sentence is straightforward and clear, presenting the information in a direct manner typical of genealogical listings in the Old Testament.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׁמְעִי as σαμαα, maintaining the identification of Shimei but possibly reflecting a variation in pronunciation or spelling. This choice indicates a continuity in the name's recognition across different cultures.
The use of σαμαα does not alter the meaning but shows how the name was adapted into Greek, preserving its significance within the context of the text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 4:18 tells us that Shimei is the son of Ela and belongs to the tribe of Benjamin. This verse is part of a list detailing the officials appointed by King Solomon, showing how he organized his government.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Shimei was an official during King Solomon's reign, identified as the son of Ela from the tribe of Benjamin.
The name Shimei means 'renowned' and was a common name among Israelites.
Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and the tribe descended from him played an important role in Israel's history.
Ela was an Israelite leader and the father of Shimei, serving as one of Solomon's deputies.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does Shimei's lineage tell us about the organization of Solomon's government?
- How does the name Shimei reflect the cultural practices of naming in ancient Israel?
- In what ways do genealogies in the Bible help us understand the history of Israel?
- Why is it important to recognize the tribal affiliations of figures like Shimei?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 4:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleShimei the son of Elah in Benjamin. So described, to distinguish him from that Shimei that cursed David, who was of the same tribe; [See comments on 2 Samuel 16:5].
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBaanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe son of Elah; which he adds to distinguish him from that cursed and cursing Shimei, .
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 4:18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:Ver. 18. Shimei the son of Elah.] See on 1 Kings 1:8.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) The eleventh division, the territory of Benjamin (properly including Jerusalem itself), though small, is singularly strong and populous, including Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, extending from Judah to Ephraim, and commanding the centre of the high land of what was afterwards the kingdom of Judah.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. Elah] The usual manner of transliteration requires Ela, like Baana in 16.
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;
Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.
Tyndale line
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin:
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Shimei the sonne of Elah in Beniamin:
Strictly literal
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin.
Shimei Ben-Elah [is] in Benjamin.
Shimei Ben-Elah [is] in Benjamin;
Shim'i the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;
From the Latin
Semei the son of Ela in Benjamin.
Simplified
Shimei, son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all four words matched. This consistency indicates a strong preservation of the text across these traditions.
שִׁמְעִ֥י בֶן־ אֵלָ֖א בְּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ ס
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 4:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שִׁמְעִי (*Shim'i*) means 'renowned' and refers to various individuals in the Old Testament, primarily from the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. It is associated with several notable figures, including a Levite and a Benjamite, and appears in contexts ranging from the time of David to the post-exilic period. The entries highlight multiple bearers of the name, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
שִׁמְעִי 43 n.pr.m.
in Benj.
a Ramathite
Levites
brother of Zerub.
in Simeon
in Reuben
1
post-ex. names
grandfather of Mordecai
2
base
H8096 שִׁמְעִי . in Benj.
. a Ramathite
. Levites
. brother of Zerub.
. in Simeon
. in Reuben
. 1
. post-ex. names
. grandfather of Mordecai
. 2
8096 Shim`iy shim-ee'
from 8088; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty
Israelites:--Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi,
Shimi.
see HEBREW for 08088
שִׁמְעִי (shim.i) — Shimei.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.17;
son of: Gershon (H1648);
brother of: Libni (H3845G);
father of: Jahath (H3189I), Zizah (H2126), Jeush (H3266J) and Beriah (H1283J)
Also named: shim.i (שִׁמְעִי "Shimeite" H8097)
§ Shimei or Shimhi or Shimi or Shimea = "renowned"
1) a Benjamite, son of Gera of the house of Saul in the time of David
2) a Benjamite, son of Elah and commissariat officer in the time of Solomon
3) the Ramathite in charge of the vineyards of David
4) son of Gershon and grandson of Levi
5) a Levite, son of Jeduthun and chief of the 10th division of singers in the time of David
6) a Levite of the sons of Heman who took part in the purification of the temple in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
shim'-e-i (shim`i, possibly "hear me (El)" or "(Jah)"; Semeei, Semei): A name of frequent occurrence throughout the Old Testament records, sometimes varying slightly in form in English Versions of the Bible. The King James Version has "Shimi" in Ex 6:17; "Shimhi" in 1Ch 8:21; "Shimeah" in 2Sa 21:21. the Revised Version (British and American) has "Shimeites" in Zec 12:13, where the King James Version has "Shimei," and Nu 3:21 for the King James Version "Shimites." English Versions of the Bible has "Shema" in 1Ch 8:13,21 margin for the "Shimei" of 8:21. In all others…
Shimei
Famous. (1.) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18; 1 Chr. 6:17, 29); called Shimi in Ex. 6:17.
(2.) A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5-13). After the defeat of Absalom he “came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer homage to the king” (19:16-23). David forgave him; but on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions regarding Shimei…
(renowned). Son of Gershon the son of Levi, (Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17,29; 23:7,9,10; Zechariah 12:13) called SHIMI in (Exodus 6:17) (B.C. after 1706.) Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, who lived at Bahurim. (B.C. 1023.) When David and his suite were seen descending the long defile, on his flight from Absolom, (2 Samuel 16:5-13) the whole feeling of the clan of Benjamin burst forth without restraint in the person of Shimei. He ran along the ridge, cursing and throwing stones at the king and is companions. The next meeting was very different. The king was now returning from his successful…
Shimi, that hears or obeys; my reputation; my fame
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֵלָא (Ela) refers to a man mentioned in the context of Solomon's reign, specifically as the father of Shimei, an officer. The name is derived from a variation of the word for 'oak' and is linked to the Hebrew word for oak, אֵלָה (Elah). It appears in 1 Kings 4:18.
אֵלָא n.pr.m. father of an officer of Solomon 1 K 4:18
ref
H414 אֵלָא
414 'Ela' ay-law'
a variation of 424; oak; Ela, an Israelite:--Elah.
see HEBREW for 0424
אֵלָא (e.la) — Ela.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.18;
father of: Shimei (H8096I)
§ Elah = "oak"
father of one of Solomon's deputies
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
The Hebrew word בִּנְיָמִין (i.e., *Binyamiyn*) means 'son of the right hand.' It refers primarily to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, as well as to the tribe descended from him. The entries also mention a son of Bilhan and several individuals from the time of Ezra. Notably, the name is associated with various contexts in the Old Testament.
בִּנְיָמִין n.pr.m. 166 (son of (the) right hand)—
youngest son of Jacob, so called by him, but Rachel, the mother, who died at Benjamin's birth, called בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י (q.v.)
son of Bilhan and great-grandson of Benjamin
a Jew of Ezra's time
base
H1144 בִּנְיָמִין . youngest son of Jacob, so called by him, but Rachel, the mother, who died at Benjamin's birth, called בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י (q.v.)
. son of Bilhan and great-grandson of Benjamin
. a Jew of Ezra's time
1144 Binyamiyn bin-yaw-mene'
from 1121 and 3225; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin,
youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and
its territory:--Benjamin.
see HEBREW for 01121
see HEBREW for 03225
בִּנְיָמִין (bin.ya.min) — Benjamin.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);
brother of: Joseph (H3130);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
father of: Bela (H1106A), Becher (H1071), Ashbel (H0788), Gera (H1617), Naaman (H5283), Ehi (H0278), Rosh (H7220), Muppim (H4649), Huppim (H2650H), Ard (H0714), Ahiram (H0297) and Jediael (H3043); also called Jamin at 1Sa.9.1,4; 22.7; 1x
§ Benjamin = "son of the right hand"
1) Jacob's and Rachel's youngest son, Joseph's full brother
2) son of Bilhan, great-grandson of Benjamin
3) a Benjamite, one of the sons of Harim, in the time of Ezra who had taken a strange wife
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
ben'-ja-min (binyamin, or binyamin; Beniaein, Beniamin):
1. The Patriarch:
The youngest of Jacob's sons. His mother Rachel died in giving him birth. As she felt death approaching she called him Benoni, "son of my sorrow." Fearing, probably, that this might bode evil for the child--for names have always preserved a peculiar significance in the East--Jacob called him Benjamin, "son of the fight hand" (Ge 35:17 ff). He alone of Jacob's sons was born in Palestine, between Bethel and Ephrath. Later in the chapter, in the general enumeration of the children born in Paddan-ar am, the writer fails to except Benjamin (Ge 35:24). Joseph was his full brother. In the history where Benjamin appears as an object of solicitude to his father and brothers, we must not forget that he was already a…
Benjamin
Son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen. 49:27; Deut. 33:12; Josh. 18:21).
The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the smallest but one (Num. 1:36, 37; Ps. 68:27). During the march its place was along with Manasseh…
(son of the right hand, fortunate). The youngest of the children of Jacob. His birth took place on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, near the latter, B.C. 1729. His mother, Rachel, died in the act of giving him birth, naming him with her last breath Ben-oni (son of my sorrow). This was by Jacob changed into Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16,18) Until the journeys of Jacob’s sons and Jacob himself into Egypt we hear nothing of Benjamin. Nothing personal is known of him. Henceforward the history of Benjamin is the history of the tribe. A man of the tribe of Benjamin, son of bilhan, and the head of a family of warriors. (1 Chronicles 7:10) One of the "sons of Harim," an Israelite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife. (Ezra…
The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Ge 35:16-18. Rachel died immediately after he was born, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow; but Jacob called him Benjamin, son of my right hand. He was a great comfort to his father, who saw in him the beloved wife he had buried, and Joseph whose loss he mourned. He could hardly be persuaded to let him go with his brethren to Egypt, Ge 42:38. The tribe of Benjamin was small at first and was almost exterminated in the days of the Judges, Jud 20:1-48, but afterwards greatly increased, 2Ch 14:8 17:17. It was valiant, Ge 49:27, and "beloved of the Lord,"…