Lexical Summary Sumeón: Simeon Original Word: Συμεών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Simeon, Simon. From the same as Simon; Symeon (i.e. Shimon), the name of five Israelites -- Simeon, Simon. see GREEK Simon NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Semitic origin, cf. Shimon Definition Symeon, Simeon, the name of several Isr., also a tribe of Isr. NASB Translation Simeon (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4826: ΣυμεώνΣυμεών, ὁ (indeclinable, Buttmann, 16 (14)) (for the derivation see Σίμων), Simeon (so A. V. uniformly (on 2 Peter 1:1 see 5 below)); 1. the second son of Jacob by Leah (Genesis 29:33): Revelation 7:7. 2. (R. V. Symeon), one of Abraham's descendants: Luke 3:30. 3. that devout Simeon who took the infant Jesus in his arms in the temple: Luke 2:25 (here Rec.bez Σιμεών), Luke 2:34. 4. Symeon (so R. V.) surnamed Niger, one of the teachers of the church at Antioch: Acts 13:1. 5. Peter the apostle: Acts 15:14 (R. V. Symeon); 2 Peter 1:1 (here L WH text Σίμων, and A. V. (R. V.) Simon); respecting him see Σίμων, 1 and Πέτρος, at the end. Simeon (Greek Συμεών, Strong’s 4826) echoes the Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן, “heard.” The name first appears for Jacob’s second son, progenitor of the tribe of Simeon (Genesis 29:33). That tribal heritage underlies every New Testament occurrence, reminding readers that God continues to “hear” and remember His covenant people across the Testaments. Occurrences in the New Testament These seven verses mention five distinct persons or groups, each shedding light on a different aspect of God’s redemptive program. Simeon the Righteous Witness (Luke 2:25-35) A devout man in Jerusalem, “righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25). Simeon stands at the hinge of covenants: the Law’s faithful remnant welcoming the promised Messiah. His Spirit-given prophecy (“My eyes have seen Your salvation,” Luke 2:30) validates the infant Jesus as light for Gentiles and glory for Israel, underscoring the universality and particularity of salvation in one breath. His blessing to Mary (“a sword will pierce your own soul,” Luke 2:35) foreshadows the cross, making Simeon the first to tie Jesus’ infancy explicitly to His passion. Simeon in the Genealogy (Luke 3:30) Listed among Jesus’ forebears, this otherwise unknown Simeon affirms the historicity of the incarnation. Each ancestral link roots the Savior in real space-time lineage, fulfilling promises that Messiah would arise from within Israel, not descend as a mythic figure. Simeon called Niger (Acts 13:1) A prophet-teacher at Antioch, likely of African descent (“Niger” meaning “dark-complexioned”). Alongside Barnabas, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul, Simeon participates in the prayer-fasting context that launches Paul’s first missionary journey. His presence depicts the multi-ethnic character of the early church leadership and models Spirit-led commissioning for global evangelism. Simeon as Peter’s Hebrew Name (Acts 15:14; 2 Peter 1:1) James opens the Jerusalem Council with, “Simeon has described how God first visited the Gentiles” (Acts 15:14), deliberately employing Peter’s Hebrew name to stress continuity with Israel’s prophetic hope (Amos 9:11-12, quoted later in the speech). Peter himself writes, “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1), blending Hebrew and Greek forms to affirm his Jewish identity while addressing a largely Gentile readership. In both texts, the name choice highlights the one people of God formed from both circumcision and uncircumcision. The Tribe of Simeon in Eschatological Promise (Revelation 7:7) John hears twelve thousand sealed from “the tribe of Simeon,” part of the 144,000 who bear God’s mark during end-time judgments. The inclusion of Simeon—historically the weakest and most dispersed tribe (Joshua 19:1-9)—demonstrates divine faithfulness to restore and preserve every segment of covenant Israel, answering Ezekiel 37’s vision of reunited tribes. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Continuity: The name Simeon bridges Genesis to Revelation, testifying that God’s promises to the patriarchs culminate in Jesus Christ. Ministry Applications Today • Expectant Waiting: Simeon’s cultivated hope invites modern believers to live in anticipation of Christ’s return with Scripture-shaped longing. In each appearance, Strong’s 4826 anchors the Lord’s ongoing work—from cradle to cross, from Jerusalem to the nations, and from the present age to the consummation of all things. Englishman's Concordance Luke 2:25 NGRK: ᾧ ὄνομα Συμεών καὶ ὁ NAS: whose name was Simeon; and this man KJV: whose name [was] Simeon; and the same INT: whose name [was] Simon and the Luke 2:34 N Luke 3:30 N Acts 13:1 N Acts 15:14 N 2 Peter 1:1 N-NMS Revelation 7:7 N |
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