Who was Zimran in the bible?

Zimran (a name lexically connected with a sense of being “musical”) is identified in Scripture as a son born to Abraham through Keturah. He appears in biblical genealogical lists that locate him among the children of Keturah.

Zimran in Scripture

Zimran is first named in the record of Abraham’s family in Genesis 25, where Keturah is introduced and her sons by Abraham are listed.

“Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.” (Genesis 25:1, WEB)

“She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.” (Genesis 25:2, WEB)

Within this same chapter, the narrative continues by extending the genealogical lines of Zimran’s brothers. Immediately after naming Zimran and the other sons, Genesis traces Jokshan’s and Dedan’s descendants, and then Midian’s descendants, situating Zimran among a broader family network connected to Keturah.

“Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.” (Genesis 25:3, WEB)

“The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.” (Genesis 25:4, WEB)

The chapter then turns to Abraham’s estate as it relates to Isaac, providing additional context for the family setting in which Zimran is listed.

“Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,” (Genesis 25:5, WEB)

Zimran appears again in a later genealogical summary in 1 Chronicles 1. In this context, the Chronicler places the sons of Keturah after a listing of Ishmael’s sons and before a brief statement about Isaac’s line. This arrangement frames Zimran within a sequence of Abraham’s descendants as Chronicles presents them.

“Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,” (1 Chronicles 1:30, WEB)

“Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.” (1 Chronicles 1:31, WEB)

“The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.” (1 Chronicles 1:32, WEB)

Chronicles then continues with further detail about Midian’s sons, and then moves on to Abraham’s son Isaac and Isaac’s sons, showing how Zimran’s brief mention functions as part of an organized genealogical presentation.

“The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.” (1 Chronicles 1:33, WEB)

“Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.” (1 Chronicles 1:34, WEB)

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Hebrew as זִמְרָן (Zimran), transliterated Zimran and pronounced “zim-rawn’.” Lexically, it is explained as deriving from a Hebrew root (zamar, זָמַר) associated with touching the strings or parts of an instrument, and thus carries a sense related to being “musical.”

Observation

In both Genesis and Chronicles, Zimran is presented in the same way: as one of the sons whom Keturah “bore” to Abraham (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32), with his role in the text primarily genealogical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Zimran in the Bible?

Zimran is named as a son of Abraham by Keturah. He is listed among Keturah’s sons in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32.

What does the name Zimran mean?

Zimran means “musical.”

How many times does Zimran appear in the Bible?

Zimran appears 2 times.

Where is Zimran listed among Abraham’s family?

He is listed among the sons Keturah bore to Abraham in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Zimran 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).