Shamariah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Shamariah was a son of Rehoboam, king of Judah, and is named in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah recorded in 2 Chronicles. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the grandson of David, and he reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah after the kingdom divided following Solomon’s death. The account of his household appears in 2 Chronicles 11, where the writer lists his wives and children.
Shamariah is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 11:19, in a list of children born to Rehoboam by Mahalath, one of his wives. The verse reads, “Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.” He is therefore one of several sons born to Rehoboam through this marriage, named alongside his brothers Jeush and Zaham. The passage is part of a larger record of Rehoboam’s family, noting that he took many wives and fathered many children.
Scripture records nothing further about Shamariah—no deeds, no words, and no events from his life. He appears only in this single genealogical notice. His inclusion in the record shows that he belonged to the royal line of Judah, but beyond his name and his father, the biblical text is entirely silent about him.
The Name
The name Shamariah is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is generally understood within the range of “the LORD has kept” or “the LORD has preserved,” built from elements relating to guarding or keeping and the divine name. Because the name is rare and its exact form is not entirely certain, some uncertainty remains about the precise nuance. What can be said with reasonable confidence is that the name carries a sense of the LORD’s keeping or protection.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered by crowds. Shamariah’s entire legacy in Scripture is one line in a family record—no victory, no speech, no notable deed. Yet he was known to God, named and counted among his people. That is a quiet comfort. A life hidden from history’s notice is not hidden from the LORD. Faithfulness in obscurity still matters to the One who keeps every name, and the smallest record in His book is not forgotten.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 2 Chronicles 11:19 — Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.