Misham is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Misham was a descendant of Benjamin, the son of Jacob, and he is named in the tribal genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles. He appears in the line of Elpaal, a Benjamite clan leader, and is listed among Elpaal’s sons: “The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof” (1 Chronicles 8:12). This places Misham within the post-exilic record of Benjamin’s family lines, preserved by the chronicler to document the heritage of the tribe.
Beyond his name and his father’s household, Scripture records nothing else about Misham. He is not credited with any deed, journey, or word. The verse does note that his brother Shamed built Ono and Lod with their surrounding towns, but Misham himself is simply listed as one of Elpaal’s sons. His entire biblical footprint is a single mention in a genealogy.
That brevity is itself part of the setting. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles served to anchor the returning exiles in their ancestral inheritance, showing that the tribes and families of Israel were still known and remembered before God. Misham did nothing notable that Scripture saw fit to record, yet he was counted among the sons of Benjamin, and his name was kept.
The Name
The Hebrew name Misham appears to be built from a root related to hearing or answering, though the exact meaning is not clearly recoverable from the text. Some Hebrew names of this form have been suggested to carry a sense such as “their hearing” or “he who hears,” but the derivation is uncertain and no meaning is established with confidence. It is better to acknowledge plainly that the name’s meaning is obscure than to assign it a definition the text does not support.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered for a great building project or a bold act of faith. Like Misham, we may live out our days in quiet faithfulness, known fully only to God and to those closest to us. That is not a wasted life. The chronicler took care to write Misham’s name down, and the Lord takes care to know His own. A life hidden in ordinary obedience is still a life held in the hand of the God who forgets none of His children.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 8:12 — The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof: