Shimrath is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Shimrath was a descendant of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, and he is named in the tribal genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles. He appears in a list of Benjamite families descended from a man named Shimhi (also rendered Shema or Shimei in related passages). The record reads simply, “And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi” (1 Chronicles 8:21). Shimrath is thus identified as one of three sons of Shimhi, grouped with his brothers Adaiah and Beraiah.
The setting of this passage is the great genealogical registry of Israel, compiled to establish the lineage, inheritance, and identity of the tribes after the return from exile. The Chronicler traces Benjamin’s descendants through several branches, listing household heads and their sons by name. Shimrath belongs to one of those branches, and his mention places him among the families settled in the territory allotted to Benjamin.
Scripture tells us nothing further about Shimrath himself—no deed, no word, no event in his life is recorded. He did not rule, fight, or prophesy in the biblical narrative. What Scripture says of him is limited to his name, his father, and his brothers. Yet his inclusion in this registry is itself meaningful: he is counted among the people of God, a member of a tribe whose inheritance was secured and whose name was preserved in the sacred record. He appears only once in the King James Bible, in this single genealogical verse.
The Name
The Hebrew name Shimrath is understood by many scholars to carry the sense of “guard” or “watch,” possibly related to a root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. Some connect it to the idea of a “keeper” or one who watches over something. However, the exact meaning is not entirely certain, and the name is obscure enough that no single interpretation commands full agreement. What can be said honestly is that the name likely carries a connotation of guarding or watching, but its precise sense remains somewhat uncertain rather than firmly established.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a history book, and Shimrath’s entire legacy in Scripture is a single line in a long list of names. Yet that line matters. He was known to God, counted among His people, and his name was preserved for generations. Faithfulness is not measured by how much we are noticed, but by belonging to the family of God and being written into His story. Even a quiet life, hidden from the world’s notice, is held securely in the memory of the One who never forgets His own.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 8:21 — And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;