1 Kings 4:18
1 Kings 4:18 in Multiple Translations
Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei, son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei the sonne of Elah in Beniamin:
Shimei Ben-Elah [is] in Benjamin.
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Semei the son of Ela in Benjamin.
Ela’s son Shimei, for the territory of the tribe of Benjamin;
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 4:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Kings 4:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שִׁמְעִ֥י
בֶן
אֵלָ֖א
בְּ/בִנְיָמִֽן
שִׁמְעִ֥י
Shimʻîy
H8096
Shimei
N-proper
בֶן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
אֵלָ֖א
ʼÊlâʼ
H414
Ela
N-proper
בְּ/בִנְיָמִֽן
Binyâmîyn
H1144
Benjamin
Prep | N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 4:18
שִׁמְעִ֥י
Shimʻîy
H8096
"Shimei"
N-proper
Shimei was a common name among Israelites, with at least 20 people having this name. One notable Shimei was the brother of David and son of Jesse, who lived during the United Monarchy.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.16.9; son of: Jesse (H3448); brother of: David (H1732), Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?) and Elihu (H0453J); father of: Jonadab (H3122); also called Shimei (KJV: Shimea) at 2Sa.21.21; Shammah at 1Sa.16.9; 17.13; Shimea at 1Ch.2.13; 20.7; Another name of shim.ah (שִׁמְעָה "Shimeah" H8093) § 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 7) a Levite, brother of Cononiah in charge of receiving the tithes and offerings in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah 8) a Levite who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 9) a Judaite, son of Pedaiah and brother of Zerubbabel 10) a Simeonite, son of Zacchur 11) a Reubenite, son of Gog and father of Micah 12) one of the sons of Hashum who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 13) one of the sons of Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 14) a Benjamite, son of Kish, father of Jair, and grandfather of Mordecai in the time of Esther 15) a Levite, son of Jahath, grandson of Gershon, and great grandson of Levi 16) Benjamite, father of Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath. Spelled 'Shimhi'
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. See also: Exodus 6:17; 1 Chronicles 3:19; Esther 2:5.
בֶן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
אֵלָ֖א
ʼÊlâʼ
H414
"Ela"
N-proper
Ela was an Israelite who lived during the United Monarchy. He was the father of Shimei and one of Solomon's deputies, and his name means oak. Ela is mentioned in 1 Kings 4:18.
Definition: 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
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: Elah. See also: 1 Kings 4:18.
בְּ/בִנְיָמִֽן
Binyâmîyn
H1144
"Benjamin"
Prep | N-proper
Benjamin means son of the right hand, referring to the youngest son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him. The term is first used in Genesis 35:18. Benjamin was a brother of Joseph and a half-brother of Reuben and others.
Definition: § Benjamin = "son of the right hand" a gate in Jerusalem
Usage: Occurs in 160 OT verses. KJV: Benjamin. See also: Genesis 35:18; 1 Samuel 9:21; Psalms 68:28.
Study Notes — 1 Kings 4:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 4:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 4:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 4:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 4:18
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
Context — Solomon’s Twelve Officers
16Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;
17Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar;
18Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;
19Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was also one governor in the land of Judah. 20The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.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 | 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. These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages. Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim —fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. |
| 3 | Zechariah 12:13 | the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, |
1 Kings 4:18 Summary
This verse tells us about a man named Shimei son of Ela, who was a governor in the tribe of Benjamin. He was one of the leaders appointed by King Solomon to help him govern his kingdom. This shows that King Solomon was a wise and organized leader, who wanted to make sure his kingdom was well taken care of, just like God wants us to be good stewards of the resources He gives us (Matthew 25:14-30). The fact that Shimei was a governor in Benjamin also reminds us that God is a God of order and administration, and He wants us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Shimei son of Ela and what was his role?
Shimei son of Ela was a governor in the kingdom of Israel, specifically in the tribe of Benjamin, as appointed by King Solomon, similar to the role of leaders in other tribes, such as Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar (1 Kings 4:17).
What can we learn from the fact that Shimei was a governor in Benjamin?
The fact that Shimei was a governor in Benjamin suggests that King Solomon's administration was organized and efficient, with leaders appointed to oversee different regions, as seen in the book of 1 Kings 4, and this is similar to the way Jesus Christ will organize His kingdom (Matthew 25:23).
How does this verse fit into the larger context of 1 Kings 4?
This verse is part of a list of governors appointed by King Solomon to oversee different regions of his kingdom, highlighting the king's administrative skills and the prosperity of his kingdom, as described in 1 Kings 4:20, where it says the people were as numerous as the sand on the seashore.
What does the appointment of Shimei son of Ela reveal about King Solomon's character?
The appointment of Shimei son of Ela reveals that King Solomon was a wise and just ruler, who valued the skills and abilities of his leaders, as seen in 1 Kings 3:12, where God says He will give Solomon wisdom and wealth.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of leadership and governance in our own lives and communities?
- How can we apply the principles of good governance and leadership seen in King Solomon's administration to our own roles and responsibilities?
- What does the fact that Shimei was a governor in Benjamin suggest about the diversity and representation within King Solomon's kingdom?
- How does this verse relate to the broader theme of God's sovereignty and provision, as seen in the prosperity of King Solomon's kingdom (1 Kings 4:20)?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 4:18
Shimei 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].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 4:18
Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
The son of Elah; which he adds to distinguish him from that cursed and cursing Shimei, .
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
1 Kings 4:18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:Ver. 18. Shimei the son of Elah.] See on 1 Kings 1:8.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
(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.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 4:18
18. Elah] The usual manner of transliteration requires Ela, like Baana in 16.
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:18
18. Benjamin — See at Joshua 18:11-28.