Lexical Summary Garmi: Garmi Original Word: גַּרְמִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Garmite From gerem; bony, i.e. Strong -- Garmite. see HEBREW gerem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom garam Definition "bony," a name applied to Keilah NASB Translation Garmite (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גַּרְמִי adjective, of a people with article 1 Chronicles 4:19. גרן (√ of following; ? compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting The single attestation of גַּרְמִי (Garmi) appears in the Judahite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 4:19. Chronicles catalogs the tribe’s lines to demonstrate God’s preservation of covenant promises through identifiable families. In this list, the “father of Keilah the Garmite” stands alongside “Eshtemoa the Maacathite,” showing that even comparatively obscure branches share equal standing within Judah’s heritage. Clan Identity within Judah Garmi designates a family group—“the Garmite”—rather than an individual. The Hebrew construction parallels other gentilics such as “Maacathite,” tying lineage to an ancestral figure (Garm) or a locality (possibly Garm). By including the Garmite clan, the Chronicler affirms that all covenant members, whether prominent or minor, contributed to Judah’s collective identity. Connection to Keilah Keilah was a fortified town in the Shephelah, remembered for David’s rescue of its inhabitants (1 Samuel 23:1-13). The Chronicler’s note that the Garmite patriarch was “father of Keilah” (1 Chronicles 4:19) likely indicates that this clan either founded, rebuilt, or exercised leading influence over the town. The citation links the Garmite family to a site where divine deliverance had once been vividly displayed, reinforcing Judah’s memory of salvation history. Historical and Cultural Significance Genealogies in post-exilic Judah served legal and social functions—determining land claims, temple duties, and communal roles (Ezra 2:59-63). Though the specific deeds of the Garmite clan are lost to time, their inclusion signals that their lineage was verified and valued. This reflects the Chronicler’s broader purpose: to encourage returned exiles by demonstrating continuity between pre-exilic forebears and their own generation. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Faithfulness: The recording of lesser-known clans like the Garmites underscores God’s meticulous faithfulness to every segment of His covenant people (Genesis 17:7; Nehemiah 9:8). Ministry Implications • Pastoral encouragement: Leaders can reassure believers who feel unnoticed that the Lord records every faithful life, just as He preserved the name of the Garmite clan. Key Reference 1 Chronicles 4:19 – “The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.” Forms and Transliterations הַגַּרְמִ֑י הגרמי hag·gar·mî haggarMi haggarmîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:19 HEB: אֲבִ֥י קְעִילָ֖ה הַגַּרְמִ֑י וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖עַ הַמַּעֲכָתִֽי׃ NAS: of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa KJV: of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa INT: the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite 1 Occurrence |
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