8098. Shemayah or Shemayahu

Lexical Summary

Shemayah or Shemayahu: Shemaiah or Shemaiahu

Original Word: שְׁמַעְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shma`yah
Pronunciation: shem-ah-YAH or shem-ah-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: (shem-aw-yaw')
KJV: Shemaiah
NASB: Shemaiah
Word Origin: [from H8085 (שָׁמַע - heard) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah has heard
2. Shemajah, the name of twenty-five Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Shemaiah

Or Shmamyahuw {shem-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from shama' and Yahh; Jah has heard; Shemajah, the name of twenty-five Israelites -- Shemaiah.

see HEBREW shama'

see HEBREW Yahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from shama and Yah
Definition
"Yah hears," the name of a number of Isr.
NASB Translation
Shemaiah (41).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שְׁמַעְיָ֫ה(וּׅ proper name, masculine Σαμαιας etc.: שְׁמַעְיָה

1 prophet, Rehoboam's time 1 Kings 12:22; 2Chronicles 12:5,7,15; = יָהוּ-2Chronicles 11:2.

2 Jeremiah's time:

a. false prophet Jeremiah 29:31 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 29:32 = יָהוּ- Jeremiah 29:24.

b. יָהוּ- Jeremiah 36:12.

3 יָהוּ- a prophet's father Jeremiah 26:20.

4 descendant of Zerubbabel 1 Chronicles 3:22 (twice in verse).

5 in Simeon 1 Chronicles 4:37.

6 in Reuben 1 Chronicles 5:4.

7 Levites:

a. 1 Chronicles 9:14.

b. 1 Chronicles 9:16 = שַׁמּוּעַ 3

c. 1 Chronicles 15:8,11

d. 1 Chronicles 24:6.

e. 1 Chronicles 26:4,6,7

f.2Chronicles 29:14.

g. Ezra 8:16.

h. Nehemiah 11:15. Also יָהוּ-

i.2Chronicles 17:8.

j.2Chronicles 31:15.

k.2Chronicles 35:9.

8 companions of Ezra:

a. Ezra:

a. Ezra 8:13.

b. Ezra 6:10.

10 priests:

a. Nehemiah 10:9; Nehemiah 12:42.

b. Nehemiah 12:6.18.

c. Nehemiah 12:35 d. Nehemiah 12:36.

11 a prince Nehemiah 12:34.

אֶשְׁתְּמוֺעַ see above.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The name שְׁמַעְיָה (Shemaiah) is borne by at least twenty-five distinct persons and is found about forty-one times in the Old Testament. The men who carry it appear from the time of King David down to the post-exilic community of Ezra and Nehemiah. Though their individual accounts vary, together they show how the LORD faithfully “heard” and guided His covenant people in worship, leadership, reform, discipline, and restoration.

Prophetic Witness in the Divided Kingdom

1. Shemaiah the prophet during Rehoboam’s reign (1 Kings 12:22-24; 2 Chronicles 11:2-4; 12:5-15) intervened at two strategic moments:
• He stopped civil war before it began—“This is what the LORD says: Do not go up and fight against your brothers” (1 Kings 12:24).
• He confronted Judah after Shishak’s invasion, declaring both judgment and mercy (2 Chronicles 12:5-7). His written annals (2 Chronicles 12:15) remind readers that prophetic authority shaped Judah’s historical record.
2. Shemaiah son of Delaiah, hired to lure Nehemiah into sin (Nehemiah 6:10-13), feigned prophecy to sabotage the wall-builder. His exposure shows that true prophecy accords with the Law and advances God’s redemptive plan, while false prophecy seeks self-interest and fear-mongering.
3. Shemaiah the Nehelamite, a false prophet in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:24-32), attacked Jeremiah’s letter and urged punishment of faithful men. The LORD judged him: “None of his descendants will remain among this people” (Jeremiah 29:32). Together with the Delaiah episode, Scripture contrasts genuine and spurious prophetic voices bearing the same name.

Levitical Service in the United Kingdom

Under David a cluster of Shemaiahs appear as worship leaders and administrators:
• Chief of two hundred Elizaphanites who helped bring up the ark (1 Chronicles 15:8).
• One of six leading Levites summoned by David to sanctify themselves for that procession (1 Chronicles 15:11).
• Trumpeter before the ark (1 Chronicles 15:24).
• Scribe for the priestly divisions—“Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the leaders” (1 Chronicles 24:6).
• Firstborn of Obed-edom, made captain of the gatekeepers because he and his sons were “men of great ability” (1 Chronicles 26:6-8).

These men demonstrate the breadth of Levitical calling: organization, music, guarding holy space, and keeping written records, all in joyful obedience to the king who foreshadows Christ.

Roles during Hezekiah and Josiah’s Reforms

In the eighth- and seventh-century renewals two more Shemaiahs assist godly kings:
• A son of Jeduthun who helped cleanse the temple at Hezekiah’s inauguration of worship (2 Chronicles 29:14).
• A Levite officer who distributed offerings to priestly families (2 Chronicles 31:15).
• Alongside his brother Nethanel, Shemaiah gave three thousand Passover animals in Josiah’s great celebration (2 Chronicles 35:9).

Each revival required trustworthy stewards who valued purity and generosity; the repetition of the name underscores that the LORD continued to “hear” His people’s repentance.

Post-Exilic Builders, Musicians, and Administrators

After the exile the name re-emerges in Jerusalem’s restoration community:
• Shemaiah son of Shecaniah repaired the wall near his own house (Nehemiah 3:29), illustrating personal ownership in covenant work.
• Shemaiah stood by Ezra at the public reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4), affirming the central place of Scripture.
• A priest named Shemaiah sealed the renewed covenant (Nehemiah 10:8).
• Several Levites named Shemaiah served as city officials (Nehemiah 11:15), heads of priestly courses (Nehemiah 12:6, 18), trumpeters in the dedication procession (Nehemiah 12:34-36), and choir leaders (Nehemiah 12:42).
• Two men named Shemaiah confessed and put away foreign wives during Ezra’s reforms (Ezra 10:21, 31), showing the cost of covenant fidelity.

Across these passages, rebuilding the city, restoring worship, and renewing the covenant all feature servants whose very names remind Judah that God listens to prayerful obedience.

Genealogical Anchors and Tribal Representation

Several Shemaiahs appear only in lineage lists (1 Chronicles 3:22; 4:37; 5:4; 23:9; 24:30; 2 Chronicles 17:8). Though easily overlooked, these notices root prophetic, priestly, and royal ministries in real families and tribes, validating historical continuity from the patriarchs to the post-exilic remnant and ultimately to the Messiah.

Counterfeit Prophecy as a Repeated Threat

The two false prophets named Shemaiah (Jeremiah 29; Nehemiah 6) highlight Satan’s strategy of mimicking genuine revelation. Their exposure teaches that God’s people must weigh every message by Scripture, discern motives, and resist fear-based manipulation.

Spiritual Lessons

• God still “hears” the humble. From Rehoboam’s repentant princes (2 Chronicles 12:7) to exiles who wept at Ezra’s reading (Nehemiah 8:9), the LORD responds to contrite hearts.
• Faithful service can be quiet yet essential. Scribes, gatekeepers, musicians, and treasurers named Shemaiah underscore that every calling, whether public or behind the scenes, supports God-honoring worship.
• Revival requires ordered stewardship. In both Hezekiah’s and Josiah’s reforms, administrators named Shemaiah managed resources so that priests could minister and the people could celebrate.
• Beware spiritual manipulation. The episodes in Jeremiah 29 and Nehemiah 6 warn that false voices may exploit holy language for personal or political advantage. The safeguard is the written Word and courageous leadership.
• Continuity of worship ties generations together. From Davidic choirs to Nehemiah’s choirs, bearers of the name Shemaiah model generational faithfulness, anticipating the church’s calling to hand down gospel truth “from age to age the same.”

Key References

1 Kings 12:22-24; 1 Chronicles 15:8, 15:11, 15:24; 1 Chronicles 24:6; 1 Chronicles 26:6-8; 2 Chronicles 11:2-4; 2 Chronicles 12:5-15; 2 Chronicles 29:14; 2 Chronicles 31:15; 2 Chronicles 35:9; Jeremiah 29:24-32; Nehemiah 3:29; Nehemiah 6:10-13; Nehemiah 8:4; Nehemiah 10:8; Nehemiah 11:15; Nehemiah 12:6, 18, 34-36, 42.

Forms and Transliterations

וְלִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜ה וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜הוּ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה וּֽשְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וּשְׁמַֽעְיָ֨הוּ ולשמעיה ושמעיה ושמעיהו לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָה לִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֖ה לשמעיה מעיהו שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֡הוּ שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה שְֽׁמַֽעְיָה֩ שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡ה שְׁ֠מַעְיָהוּ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֑ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֣ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥הוּ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה ׀ שְׁמַֽעְיָֽה׃ שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה שְׁמַעְיָ֔הוּ שְׁמַעְיָ֖ה שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה שְׁמַעְיָ֣ה שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה שְׁמַעְיָ֥הוּ שְׁמַעְיָ֧ה שמעיה שמעיה׃ שמעיהו liš·ma‘·yāh Lishmayah lišma‘yāh ma‘·yā·hū ma‘yāhū mayahu šə·ma‘·yā·hū šə·ma‘·yāh šəma‘yāh šəma‘yāhū shemaYah shemaYahu ū·šə·ma‘·yā·hū ū·šə·ma‘·yāh ūšəma‘yāh ūšəma‘yāhū ushemaYah ushemaYahu velishmaYah wə·liš·ma‘·yāh wəlišma‘yāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Kings 12:22
HEB: הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־ שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה אִישׁ־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
NAS: came to Shemaiah the man
KJV: of God came unto Shemaiah the man
INT: of God to Shemaiah the man of God

1 Chronicles 3:22
HEB: וּבְנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֣י שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה
NAS: of Shecaniah [were] Shemaiah, and the sons
KJV: of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons
INT: the descendants of Shecaniah Shemaiah and the sons of Shemaiah

1 Chronicles 3:22
HEB: שְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֣י שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה חַטּ֡וּשׁ וְ֠יִגְאָל
NAS: and the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush,
KJV: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush,
INT: Shemaiah and the sons of Shemaiah Hattush Igal

1 Chronicles 4:37
HEB: שִׁמְרִ֖י בֶּן־ שְׁמַֽעְיָֽה׃
NAS: of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
KJV: of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
INT: of Shimri the son of Shemaiah

1 Chronicles 5:4
HEB: בְּנֵ֖י יוֹאֵ֑ל שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה בְנ֛וֹ גּ֥וֹג
NAS: of Joel [were] Shemaiah his son,
KJV: of Joel; Shemaiah his son,
INT: the sons of Joel Shemaiah his son Gog

1 Chronicles 9:14
HEB: וּמִֽן־ הַלְוִיִּ֑ם שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה בֶן־ חַשּׁ֛וּב
NAS: Of the Levites [were] Shemaiah the son
KJV: And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son
INT: at of the Levites Shemaiah the son of Hasshub

1 Chronicles 9:16
HEB: וְעֹבַדְיָה֙ בֶּֽן־ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה בֶּן־ גָּלָ֖ל
NAS: the son of Shemaiah, the son
KJV: the son of Shemaiah, the son
INT: and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah the son of Galal

1 Chronicles 15:8
HEB: לִבְנֵ֖י אֱלִֽיצָפָ֑ן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה הַשָּׂ֖ר וְאֶחָ֥יו
NAS: of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief,
KJV: of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief,
INT: of the sons of Elizaphan Shemaiah the chief of his relatives

1 Chronicles 15:11
HEB: עֲשָׂיָה֙ וְיוֹאֵ֣ל שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וֶאֱלִיאֵ֖ל וְעַמִּינָדָֽב׃
NAS: Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel
KJV: and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel,
INT: Asaiah Joel Shemaiah Eliel and Amminadab

1 Chronicles 24:6
HEB: וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֡ם שְֽׁמַֽעְיָה֩ בֶן־ נְתַנְאֵ֨ל
NAS: Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel
KJV: And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel
INT: recorded Shemaiah the son of Nethanel

1 Chronicles 26:4
HEB: אֱדֹ֖ם בָּנִ֑ים שְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה הַבְּכוֹר֙ יְהוֹזָבָ֣ד
NAS: had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn,
KJV: of Obededom [were], Shemaiah the firstborn,
INT: Obed-edom had sons Shemaiah the firstborn Jehozabad

1 Chronicles 26:6
HEB: וְלִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה בְנוֹ֙ נוֹלַ֣ד
NAS: Also to his son Shemaiah sons
KJV: Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons
INT: Shemaiah to his son were born

1 Chronicles 26:7
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה עָ֠תְנִי וּרְפָאֵ֨ל
NAS: The sons of Shemaiah [were] Othni,
KJV: The sons of Shemaiah; Othni,
INT: the sons of Shemaiah Othni Rephael

2 Chronicles 11:2
HEB: יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥הוּ אִישׁ־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
NAS: came to Shemaiah the man
KJV: of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man
INT: God to Shemaiah the man of God

2 Chronicles 12:5
HEB: וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה הַנָּבִיא֙ בָּ֣א
NAS: Then Shemaiah the prophet came
KJV: Then came Shemaiah the prophet
INT: Shemaiah the prophet came

2 Chronicles 12:7
HEB: יְהוָ֨ה אֶל־ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר נִכְנְע֖וּ
NAS: came to Shemaiah, saying,
KJV: of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying,
INT: of the LORD to Shemaiah saying have humbled

2 Chronicles 12:15
HEB: כְּתוּבִ֜ים בְּדִבְרֵ֨י שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה הַנָּבִ֛יא וְעִדּ֥וֹ
NAS: in the records of Shemaiah the prophet
KJV: in the book of Shemaiah the prophet,
INT: written the records of Shemaiah the prophet Iddo

2 Chronicles 17:8
HEB: וְעִמָּהֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֗ם שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֡הוּ וּנְתַנְיָ֡הוּ וּזְבַדְיָ֡הוּ
NAS: and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah,
KJV: And with them [he sent] Levites, [even] Shemaiah, and Nethaniah,
INT: them the Levites Shemaiah Nethaniah Zebadiah

2 Chronicles 29:14
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֔וּן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃
NAS: of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
KJV: of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
INT: the sons of Jeduthun Shemaiah and Uzziel

2 Chronicles 31:15
HEB: וּ֠מִנְיָמִן וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֧הוּ וּשְׁכַנְיָ֛הוּ
NAS: Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah
KJV: and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah,
INT: Miniamin and Jeshua Shemaiah Amariah and Shecaniah

2 Chronicles 35:9
HEB: (וְ֠כָֽנַנְיָהוּ ק) וּשְׁמַֽעְיָ֨הוּ וּנְתַנְאֵ֜ל אֶחָ֗יו
NAS: Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel,
KJV: Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel,
INT: Conaniah and Shemaiah and Nethaneel his brethren

Ezra 8:13
HEB: אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽשְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֥ים
NAS: Jeuel and Shemaiah, and 60
KJV: Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore
INT: Eliphelet Jeiel and Shemaiah with

Ezra 8:16
HEB: לֶאֱלִיעֶ֡זֶר לַאֲרִיאֵ֡ל לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָה וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּלְיָרִ֜יב
NAS: Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan,
KJV: for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan,
INT: Eliezer Ariel Shemaiah Elnathan Jarib

Ezra 10:21
HEB: מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וִיחִיאֵ֖ל וְעֻזִיָּֽה׃
NAS: Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel
KJV: and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel,
INT: Maaseiah Elijah Shemaiah Jehiel and Uzziah

Ezra 10:31
HEB: יִשִּׁיָּ֛ה מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
NAS: Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
KJV: Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
INT: Isshijah Malchijah Shemaiah Shimeon

41 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8098
41 Occurrences

liš·ma‘·yāh — 2 Occ.
ma‘·yā·hū — 1 Occ.
šə·ma‘·yāh — 26 Occ.
šə·ma‘·yā·hū — 4 Occ.
ū·šə·ma‘·yāh — 5 Occ.
ū·šə·ma‘·yā·hū — 2 Occ.
wə·liš·ma‘·yāh — 1 Occ.