Lexical Summary Mibsam: Mibsam Original Word: מִבְשָׂם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mibsam From the same as besem; fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite -- Mibsam. see HEBREW besem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as bosem Definition a son of Ishmael, also a Simeonite NASB Translation Mibsam (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִבְשָׂם proper name, masculine 1. a son of Ishmael Genesis 25:13 = 1 Chronicles 1:29. 2 a descendant of Simeon 1 Chronicles 4:25. Topical Lexicon Etymology and Thematic Meaning Mibsam carries the idea of pleasant aroma or fragrance. In biblical thought, sweet fragrance often symbolizes favor, acceptance, or a life pleasing to God (Exodus 29:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15). Although Mibsam is a personal name rather than a cultic term, its semantic undertone interweaves with themes of worship and covenant blessing. Occurrences and Genealogical Context 1. Genesis 25:13 lists Mibsam as the fourth-born of the twelve sons of Ishmael. These twelve princes fulfilled the promise spoken to Abraham: “I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will be the father of twelve rulers” (Genesis 17:20). Historical Setting Ishmael’s descendants populated the Arabian wilderness, becoming notable caravan traders (Genesis 37:25-28) and border dwellers southeast of Israel. Mibsam, as one of Ishmael’s “twelve princes according to their tribes” (Genesis 25:16), would have headed a clan whose tents and livestock roamed the northern Arabian corridor. The Simeonite Mibsam lived in the southern hill country of Judah (Joshua 19:1-9) where Simeon shared territory with Judah. 1 Chronicles 4:38-43 describes Simeonite expansion toward Mount Seir during the reign of Hezekiah, hinting that clans such as Mibsam’s contributed to that migration. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Faithfulness: The double attestation of Mibsam in both Ishmael’s and Simeon’s lines reinforces God’s meticulous preservation of genealogical detail. His faithfulness extends to all branches of Abraham’s family, whether through Isaac or Ishmael (Genesis 21:13). Ministry and Devotional Application • Hidden Lives, Lasting Impact: Mibsam never performs a recorded exploit, yet his name endures in Scripture. God values faithfulness in obscurity; the believer’s worth is not measured by public acclaim but by covenant standing. Forms and Transliterations וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃ ומבשם׃ מִבְשָׂ֥ם מבשם miḇ·śām miḇśām mivSam ū·miḇ·śām ūmiḇśām umivSamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 25:13 HEB: וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃ NAS: and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam KJV: and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, INT: and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam 1 Chronicles 1:29 1 Chronicles 4:25 3 Occurrences |