Who was Shemaiah in the Bible?
Prophet, during the united monarchy
Shemaiah was a prophet who lived during the reign of King Rehoboam of Judah. After the kingdom was divided and Jeroboam became king of Israel, Rehoboam gathered his army to fight against Israel and reunite the kingdom. Shemaiah appears in 9 verses across 3 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Shemaiah for 2 different people. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Shemaiah in 2 Chronicles
Shemaiah was a prophet who lived during the reign of King Rehoboam of Judah. After the kingdom was divided and Jeroboam became king of Israel, Rehoboam gathered his army to fight against Israel and reunite the kingdom. However, the word of God came to Shemaiah, telling him to speak to Rehoboam and the people of Judah and Benjamin, saying that they should not fight against their brothers in Israel because the division was from God (1Ki.12.22-24; 2Ch.11.2-4). Later, when Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, Shemaiah delivered another message to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. He told them that because they had forsaken the Lord, He had forsaken them and given them into the hand of Shishak (2Ch.12.5). When Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves, Shemaiah brought a message of mercy, saying that God would not destroy them but would grant them some deliverance (2Ch.12.7). Shemaiah's acts and his words as a prophet were recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Judah (2Ch.12.15).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Shemaiah in Nehemiah
Shemaiah was a priest who lived during the time of Nehemiah and played a role in the religious life of the Jewish community. In Neh.10.8, he is listed among the priests who sealed the covenant, a solemn agreement to follow the Law of God and support the temple. Shemaiah is also mentioned in Neh.12.6 and Neh.12.18 as one of the heads of the priestly families during the high priesthood of Joiakim. Additionally, in Neh.12.34, Shemaiah is named as one of the priests who participated in the dedication of Jerusalem's wall, playing musical instruments and offering praise to God. These references highlight Shemaiah's involvement in the spiritual leadership and significant events of the post-exilic Jewish community.
4 verses: Nehemiah 10:8, Nehemiah 12:6, Nehemiah 12:18, Nehemiah 12:34
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Shemaiah appear in the Bible?
Shemaiah is referenced in 9 verses across 3 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Kings 12:22
- 2 Chronicles 11:2
- 2 Chronicles 12:5
- 2 Chronicles 12:7
- 2 Chronicles 12:15
Showing the first 5 of 9.
Open all 9 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Shemaiah.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Shemaiah?
Shemaiah refers to 2 different people in the Bible: Shemaiah in 2 Chronicles; Shemaiah in Nehemiah.
How many times does the Bible mention Shemaiah?
Shemaiah appears in 9 verses across 3 books, most often in 2 Chronicles, which accounts for 4 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Shemaiah?
2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, 1 Kings.
Where can I read every verse about Shemaiah?
This page lists 5 of them. Protos carries all 9, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
