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Jerahmeel

biblical_person theological_term standard

A biblical personal name borne by more than one man in the Old Testament, including a descendant of Judah and a royal official in Jeremiah 36.

At a Glance

Biblical proper name for more than one Old Testament man.

Key Points

Description

Jerahmeel is a biblical personal name used for more than one individual in the Old Testament. In the genealogies of Chronicles, Jerahmeel is connected with the tribe of Judah and a family line descending through Hezron. In Jeremiah 36:26, Jerahmeel the king’s son appears among the officials who were to seize Baruch and Jeremiah. These references are historical and genealogical rather than doctrinal. Because the same name is borne by more than one figure, an entry on Jerahmeel should identify the principal biblical occurrences and distinguish them clearly.

Biblical Context

The Old Testament often preserves names that recur across different people and generations. Jerahmeel appears in both genealogical material and narrative history, showing how Scripture ties family lines, tribal identity, and public events together.

Historical Context

The Chronicles references reflect Judahite genealogy and clan memory, while Jeremiah 36 reflects the political pressures of Jehoiakim’s reign and the official opposition faced by Jeremiah and Baruch.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Hebrew names commonly carried theological meaning. Jerahmeel is traditionally understood as meaning something like 'may God have compassion' or 'God will have compassion,' though the name functions here primarily as an identifier rather than as a doctrinal term.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

From Hebrew יְרַחְמְאֵל (Yeraḥme'el), commonly understood as 'may God have compassion' or 'God will have compassion.'

Theological Significance

Jerahmeel itself is not a theological doctrine, but the name appears in Scripture’s historical and genealogical record, underscoring the Bible’s concern for real people, families, and events.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Jerahmeel identifies persons rather than ideas. Its significance lies in historical particularity: Scripture names individuals within covenant history rather than speaking only in abstract categories.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Jerahmeel as a doctrine or symbolic title. Since more than one biblical figure bears the name, context must determine which Jerahmeel is meant in each passage.

Major Views

The main interpretive question is identification: Chronicles and Jeremiah refer to different men sharing the same Hebrew name.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry concerns a biblical proper name only. It should not be used to support speculative theology from the name’s meaning alone.

Practical Significance

The entry helps readers track biblical people accurately and read genealogies and historical narratives with greater clarity.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Jerahmeel

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