3236. Yimrah

Lexical Summary

Yimrah: Yimrah

Original Word: יִמְרָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yimrah
Pronunciation: yim-RAW
Phonetic Spelling: (yim-raw')
KJV: Imrah
NASB: Imrah
Word Origin: [probably from H3235 (יָמַר - boast)]

1. interchange
2. Jimrah, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Imrah

Probably from yamar; interchange; Jimrah, an Israelite -- Imrah.

see HEBREW yamar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from marah
Definition
an Asherite
NASB Translation
Imrah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

יִמְרָה proper name, masculine 1 Chronicles 7:36 a chief of Asher. ᵐ5 Ιμαρη, A Ιεμρα, ᵐ5^L Ιεμβρα.

מָרָה, מָרָּה, מֹרָה see I. מרר.

מֹרֶה see ירה

Hiph`il Participle, and II. מוֺרֶה.

[מָרוּד] see רוד. מֵרוֺז see ארז.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

יִמְרָה (Yimrah) appears only once in Scripture. Though the precise nuance of the name is debated, its consonantal form invites association with the verbal root מרה (“to rebel”) or אמר (“to speak/exchange”), underscoring the way Hebrew names often convey moral or historical commentary. Even an obscure name like Yimrah reminds readers that every individual, family, and tribe stands accountable before God and is included in His redemptive record.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 7:36 lists Yimrah among the descendants of Asher: “The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah”. The Chronicler catalogs these names centuries after the events, demonstrating both the faithfulness of divine preservation and the continuity of Israel’s covenant identity.

Historical Context

Asher was Jacob’s eighth son (Genesis 30:12–13), allotted fertile territory in the western Galilee (Joshua 19:24–31). Although Asher never achieved the prominence of Judah or Ephraim, its fertile lands supplied food for the whole nation (Deuteronomy 33:24–25). 1 Chronicles, composed after the exile, recovers Asher’s genealogies to affirm that the tribe remained part of the restored community (cf. 2 Chronicles 30:11). Yimrah’s inclusion confirms that even minor clans survived exile and dispersion.

Theological Significance

1. Divine Omniscience and Memory: Scripture’s meticulous genealogies convey God’s intimate knowledge of His people (Isaiah 49:15–16). Yimrah’s solitary mention assures believers that no servant of God is overlooked (Luke 12:6–7).
2. Covenant Continuity: The Chronicler’s purpose is to trace God’s unbroken promises from patriarchs to post-exilic Israel. By recording Yimrah, the text testifies that God’s covenant embraced every household within the tribes (Psalm 105:8–10).
3. Redemption of the Ordinary: Yimrah’s anonymity highlights a recurring biblical theme—the Lord delights to weave His purposes through unnoticed individuals (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).

Ministry Application

• Pastoral Encouragement: Genealogies invite modern readers to value church membership rolls, family records, and every believer’s story. Obscure saints matter eternally.
• Teaching on Identity: In youth or adult discipleship, Yimrah illustrates how personal identity is rooted more in belonging to God’s covenant community than in worldly recognition (Ephesians 2:19).
• Preaching Christ in Genealogies: Though Yimrah’s line never becomes royal, his tribe anticipates the Messiah’s inclusive ministry to Galilee and beyond (Matthew 4:15–16). Thus even hidden names echo the universal reach of the Gospel.

Related References

Genesis 30:12–13; Joshua 19:24–31; Deuteronomy 33:24–25; 1 Chronicles 7:30–40; 2 Chronicles 30:11; Isaiah 49:15–16; Luke 12:6–7; 1 Corinthians 1:27–29; Ephesians 2:19; Matthew 4:15–16.

Forms and Transliterations

וְיִמְרָֽה׃ וימרה׃ veyimRah wə·yim·rāh wəyimrāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 7:36
HEB: וְשׁוּעָ֖ל וּבֵרִ֥י וְיִמְרָֽה׃
NAS: Shual, Beri and Imrah,
KJV: and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
INT: Shual Beri and Imrah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3236
1 Occurrence

wə·yim·rāh — 1 Occ.