Simeon

1. The second son of Jacob and Leah and the founder of the tribe of Simeon. The name comes from the Hebrew word shema "to hear", and was given to her son by Leah "because the Lord has heard that I am unloved" (Gen 29:33).

When the ten sons of Jacob went down to Egypt from Canaan to buy corn during the famine, Simeon was imprisoned by Joseph as a guarantee that Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother, would be brought to him (Gen 42:19, 24; 43:23).

Genesis chapter 34 relates how Simeon and Levi massacred the inhabitants of Shechem because their sister Dinah had been raped by Shechem the son of Hamor, a prince of that city. Jacob rebuked them for their murderous deed and sharply criticized them in his last words before his death (Gen 49:5-6).

The territory of the tribe of Simeon was in the south of Judah, with Beersheba listed among the principal cities of the area (Josh 19:1-9; I Chr 4:24-33).

In Deuteronomy 27:12 Simeon led those tribes which pronounced the blessing on Mount Gerizim. However, the tribe of Simeon is excluded from Moses' final blessing (Deut chap. 33), possibly because of its having been absorbed into the large territory of Judah. Nevertheless the tribe retained its own identity and genealogical ties, as well as embarking on independent expansions of tribal territory (I Chr 4:24-43).

In Revelation 7:7 Simeon is among the tribes who are promised a seal of God in order to protect them from the damage foreseen in the prophecy.

2. An ancestor of Jesus, mentioned in the genealogy given by Luke.

3. An ancestor or teacher, also called Niger, who was teaching in the community of Antioch when it was visited by Paul and Barnabas.

4. See PETER SIMON.

5. A just and devout man (Luke 2:25), who was in the Temple in Jerusalem when Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus. According to Jewish law, a father has to redeem his firstborn son, a ceremony performed by a priest. While they were presenting their son to the priest and bringing the sacrifice after Mary's period of purification (cf Lev 12:8), Simeon saw them and took Jesus in his arms, praising God.

The Holy Spirit had previously revealed to Simeon that he would see the messiah before his death (Luke 2:26). Simeon recognized in the child a light that would be a revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for his people, Israel (Luke 2:32). Praising God and blessing the parents with their child, Simeon knew that he could now die in peace. Simeon's words found their way into the Christian liturgy under the name "Nunc Dimittis".

Concordance
SIMEON 1: Gen 29:33; 34:25, 30; 35; 23; 42:24, 36; 43:23; 46:10; 48:5; 49:5. Ex 1:2; 6:15. Num 1:6, 22-23; 2:12; 7:36; 10:19; 13:5; 26:12; 34:20. Deut 27:12. Josh 19:1, 8-9; 21:4, 9. Judg 1:3, 17. I Chr 2:1; 4:24, 42; 6:65; 12:25. II Chr 15:9; 34:6. Ezek 48:24-25, 33. Rev 7:7
SIMEON 2: Luke 3:30
SIMEON 3: Acts 13:1
SIMEON 5: Luke 2:25, 34