Lexical Summary Zimmah: Wickedness, lewdness, evil plan, mischief Original Word: זִמָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zimmah The same as zimmah; Zimmah, the name of two Israelites -- Zimmah. see HEBREW zimmah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zamam Definition an Isr. name NASB Translation Zimmah (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. זִמָּה proper name, masculine of several Levites (Gershonites) — 2 1 Chronicles 6:27. 32Chronicles 29:12. Topical Lexicon Name and OccurrencesZimmah appears three times in the Old Testament record (1 Chronicles 6:20; 1 Chronicles 6:42; 2 Chronicles 29:12). In every case the name is attached to the Gershonite branch of Levi. 1 Chronicles 6:20 lists him in the direct descent from Gershon: “The descendants of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son.” 1 Chronicles 6:42 places him farther down the same line: “...the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei.” 2 Chronicles 29:12 mentions him indirectly during Hezekiah’s reforms: “...Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites...” Genealogical Framework The Gershonites were entrusted with the fabrics and hangings of the tabernacle (Numbers 3:25–26). By locating Zimmah in this line, Scripture ties his household to the care of sacred space. The two genealogical statements in 1 Chronicles trace an early and a later member of the same family tree, demonstrating continuity of calling across centuries. Zimmah sits between Jahath and Ethan in one list and between Shimei and Ethan in another; the slight variations confirm the chronicler’s practice of telescoping generations while still preserving key names for legal and priestly legitimacy. Historical Setting 1 Chronicles 6 covers Israel’s early monarchy but recalls lineages that stretch back to the wilderness period. By the time of 2 Chronicles 29:12, the kingdom of Judah is undergoing renewal under King Hezekiah (circa 715 – 686 BC). The appearance of “Joah son of Zimmah” among the Levites who responded to the king’s call indicates that Zimmah’s descendants were still active and faithful centuries after Moses. Thus the name bridges the formative stages of Israel’s worship with a critical moment of national repentance. Liturgical Role of the Gershonites Numbers assigns the Gershonites responsibility for curtains, coverings, screens and cords—everything that marked the boundary between the holy and the common (Numbers 4:24–28). Any male descendant, including Zimmah, would have been trained in dismantling, transporting and reassembling those symbolic barriers. Their service pointed to God’s holiness while also providing a means of access for a cleansed people. Because Chronicles was composed after the exile, its preservation of Zimmah’s name subtly reminds post-exilic readers of the importance of ordered worship. Hezekiah’s Revival Connection Hezekiah began his reign by reopening and cleansing the temple (2 Chronicles 29). The first step was gathering reliable Levites. The text purposely identifies fathers and grandfathers to validate the spiritual pedigree of each participant. “Joah son of Zimmah” carries forward the Gershonite heritage. This background helps explain why Joah immediately obeyed the king’s summons: his family history was steeped in maintaining sanctity. Zimmah’s legacy therefore contributes to the rapid mobilization that saw the temple purified in sixteen days (2 Chronicles 29:17). Theological Reflections 1. Continuity of Covenant Service: From Numbers to Chronicles, the same family line is preserved. This underscores God’s faithfulness in maintaining ministers for His house despite national turmoil. Practical Ministry Implications • Steadfastness in lesser-known roles sustains public worship. Modern servants who prepare communion tables, maintain facilities or steward finances stand in Zimmah’s line. In sum, Zimmah embodies the silent strength of covenant loyalty—an ordinary name inscribed by the Spirit to remind every age that God notices, records and rewards unobtrusive faithfulness in His house. Forms and Transliterations זִמָּ֔ה זִמָּ֖ה זִמָּ֥ה זמה zim·māh zimMah zimmāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 6:20 HEB: יַ֥חַת בְּנ֖וֹ זִמָּ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃ NAS: Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, KJV: Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, INT: Jahath his son Zimmah his son 1 Chronicles 6:42 2 Chronicles 29:12 3 Occurrences |
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