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Simeon

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

Simeon is a biblical personal name borne by several men, including Jacob’s son and the righteous man in Jerusalem who blessed the infant Jesus.

At a Glance

Biblical personal name; not a doctrinal term.

Key Points

Description

Simeon is a biblical personal name used for more than one man in Scripture, so its meaning depends on context. The most prominent Simeon is Jacob’s son by Leah (Genesis 29; 34; 49), whose descendants became the tribe of Simeon in Israel (Joshua 19:1-9). Another important Simeon appears in Luke 2:25-35 as a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem who, led by the Holy Spirit, received the infant Jesus and blessed God for His promised salvation. The name may also appear in New Testament textual or transliterational forms related to Simon Peter. Because the term designates multiple persons rather than a doctrine or theological concept, it is best presented as a biblical proper-name entry with brief disambiguation.

Biblical Context

In Genesis, Simeon is one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Leah and is associated with the tribe of Simeon in the land allotments of Israel. In Luke 2, Simeon is a faithful elder in Jerusalem who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and speaks of God’s salvation for Israel and the nations. The name therefore connects both patriarchal history and the opening of the gospel narrative.

Historical Context

The name Simeon was common in the ancient biblical world and appears across Israel’s patriarchal and Second Temple settings. In Scripture, the same name can refer to different individuals, so context is essential for interpretation.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Within Jewish Scripture and later Jewish memory, Simeon first recalls one of the patriarchs of Israel and, by extension, the tribe that descended from him. Luke’s Simeon fits the pious hope of faithful Israel awaiting consolation, redemption, and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew Shim'on (“heard” or “he has heard”); Greek forms are used in the New Testament.

Theological Significance

Simeon is not a doctrine, but the name is attached to important biblical witnesses: the patriarch Simeon and the temple worshiper who testified to Jesus as the promised salvation of God. In Luke 2, Simeon highlights the Spirit’s witness to Christ and the fulfillment of covenant hope.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Simeon functions by reference rather than by definition. Meaning comes from context: the same label can identify different persons, and Scripture’s narrative setting determines which Simeon is intended.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse this entry with the separate names Simon and Simeon in textual variants or translations. When the name appears, the surrounding passage must determine which biblical person is in view.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal disagreement about the name itself; the only issue is identifying which biblical Simeon a passage refers to.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be treated as a doctrinal headword. Its purpose is identification and brief biblical disambiguation, not theological system-building.

Practical Significance

This entry helps readers distinguish between biblical figures who share the same name and read narrative or genealogical passages accurately.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Simeon

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