Who was Chimham in the bible?
Chimham (Kimham) is an Israelite mentioned in 2 Samuel 19:37–40 and in the place-name “Geruth Chimham” near Bethlehem in Jeremiah 41:17.
With The King
“So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him” (2 Samuel 19:40). The king promised, “I will do to him that which shall seem good to you” (2 Samuel 19:38).
Learn More →Name And Place
The name Kimham is explained in lexicon material as deriving from a root meaning “to pine after.” Later, a lodging-place is named: “Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem” (Jeremiah 41:17).
Learn More →Chimham (Kimham) is presented as an Israelite whose name is linked (by lexicon derivation) to the idea of “pining,” from a verb meaning “to pine after.” In Scripture he appears in a scene where Barzillai speaks to the king and proposes that Chimham go in his place, and in a later place-name, “Geruth Chimham,” located “by Bethlehem.”
Chimham in Scripture
Chimham is first mentioned during an exchange between Barzillai and “the king,” in which Barzillai declines the prospect of accompanying the king to Jerusalem. Barzillai frames his refusal in terms of age and diminished capacity, asking why he should be taken along as a burden.
“Barzillai said to the king, ‘How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?’” (2 Samuel 19:34, WEB)
“I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women any more? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king?” (2 Samuel 19:35, WEB)
Barzillai continues by describing his involvement as limited—he would only go a short distance with the king—then questions why the king should repay him with an expansive reward for so little.
“Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?” (2 Samuel 19:36, WEB)
At that point, Chimham enters the account as the person Barzillai offers to go instead. Barzillai asks to return to his own city to die and be buried, then points to Chimham as “your servant,” requesting that Chimham be allowed to cross with the king and be treated as the king sees fit.
“Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.” (2 Samuel 19:37, WEB)
The king accepts Barzillai’s request directly, affirming that Chimham will go with him and promising to do for Chimham what seems good to Barzillai. The king also offers Barzillai an open-ended willingness to grant further requests.
“The king answered, ‘Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you request of me, that I will do for you.’” (2 Samuel 19:38, WEB)
The narrative continues with the crossing of the Jordan by the people and the king. Barzillai is personally treated with affection and blessing before returning “to his own place,” while Chimham is explicitly said to proceed with the king.
“All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.” (2 Samuel 19:39, WEB)
“So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.” (2 Samuel 19:40, WEB)
Immediately after this movement, the chapter depicts dispute and sharp speech between “all the men of Israel” and “all the men of Judah” over the manner in which the king and his household were brought over the Jordan. While Chimham is not named in the argument, the setting is the same broader moment of the king’s crossing and reception.
“Behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, ‘Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?’” (2 Samuel 19:41, WEB)
“The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, ‘We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more claim to David than you. Why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?’ The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men” (2 Samuel 19:43, WEB)
Chimham’s name appears again in Jeremiah as part of a location where a group stopped and lived. In this context, “Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him” gather “all the remnant of the people” that had been recovered after violence connected with Ishmael and Gedaliah. The group’s movements are described in sequence: departure, temporary residence in a place named for Chimham, and a stated intention to go on toward Egypt because of fear.
“Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the men of war, with the women, the children, and the eunuchs,” (Jeremiah 41:16, WEB)
“They departed and lived in Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt” (Jeremiah 41:17, WEB)
“because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.” (Jeremiah 41:18, WEB)
In these verses, Chimham is directly involved in accompanying the king in 2 Samuel, and his name is preserved in Jeremiah in the designation of “Geruth Chimham,” a place “by Bethlehem” where people “lived” while preparing to go toward Egypt.
Name and Meaning
The name appears in Hebrew as כִּמְהָם, transliterated Kimham and pronounced “kim-hawm’.” Lexicon derivation connects it to a root described as “to pine after,” yielding the sense “pining.” Chimham is identified in the lexicon gloss as “an Israelite.”
Observation
Across the passages, Chimham is remembered both as the person Barzillai put forward—“behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king” (2 Samuel 19:37)—and as a name embedded in a later stopping place, “Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem” (Jeremiah 41:17).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Chimham mean?
Chimham (Kimham) means “pining.”
How many times does Chimham appear in the Bible?
Chimham appears 4 times.
Who was Chimham?
Chimham is identified as an Israelite. In 2 Samuel 19:37–40, he goes over with the king to Gilgal (2 Samuel 19:40).
What happened between the king and Chimham?
The king said, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you” (2 Samuel 19:38).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Chimham interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
