Zina is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Zina was a descendant of Levi, the son of Jacob, and he is named in the genealogies of the tribe of Levi recorded in 1 Chronicles. He appears in a single verse of Scripture, 1 Chronicles 23:10, where he is listed as one of the sons of Shimei: “And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.” The text presents him simply as one of four brothers, a member of a Levite household counted among the families of his tribe.
The setting of this genealogy is the preparation for the temple service in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 23, David, now old and nearing the end of his reign, organized the Levites for their duties in the house of the LORD. The chapter opens by describing how David gathered the leaders of Israel and set the Levites in order for the work of the sanctuary. Within that larger account, the descendants of Shimei are numbered and assigned their place among the Levitical families. Zina’s name appears in this registry because he belonged to that tribe set apart for service.
Scripture says nothing more of Zina than this single listing. No deed, word, or personal detail is recorded of him. He did not perform some notable act that the narrative preserves, nor is any failure or virtue attributed to him. What we know is only that he was a Levite, a son of Shimei, one of four brothers, and that he was counted among those whose tribe was dedicated to the LORD’s service.
The Name
The name Zina is a Hebrew name whose meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text. It appears only here in the King James Bible, and the Hebrew form behind it is uncommon, which makes a firm definition difficult to establish. Some have suggested possible connections to words for brightness or abundance, but these are conjectural rather than certain. Because the meaning is not well established, it is best to say so plainly rather than assign a meaning the text does not give. The name identifies a real man in Israel’s genealogies, even if its sense has been lost to us.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a genealogy, and Zina’s brief appearance reminds us that faithfulness does not require fame. He is named once, with no story attached, yet he belonged to a tribe set apart for God’s service. His life was part of something larger than himself: the worship of the LORD in Israel. In the same way, our quiet obedience matters, even when no one records it. God knows the names and the lives of those who serve Him, and being counted among His people is no small thing.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 23:10 — And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.