Who was Zina in the bible?

Zina is named once in the Bible as an Israelite listed among “the sons of Shimei” in a genealogical register in 1 Chronicles 23. Lexicon information associates the name with the idea of being “well-fed,” with a possible connection to another similar name form.

Zina in Scripture

Zina appears within a sequence of family lists in 1 Chronicles 23 that identifies sons and household heads. The immediate setting begins with the descendants of Ladan, then moves to the descendants of Shimei (connected in the chapter’s flow with Ladan’s household lines), before continuing on to other Levitical family lines.

The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three. (1 Chronicles 23:8, WEB)

After listing Ladan’s sons, the passage names Shimei’s sons and describes them as household heads within Ladan’s households.

The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan. (1 Chronicles 23:9, WEB)

The next verse is the only place where Zina is named. Zina is included as one of four sons attributed to Shimei in this listing.

The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. (1 Chronicles 23:10, WEB)

The following verse continues the discussion of Shimei’s sons by identifying rank among them and noting a change in how Jeush and Beriah were counted due to having few sons. This provides narrative continuity for the family list in which Zina appears, even though Zina is not further described there.

Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning. (1 Chronicles 23:11, WEB)

From there, the chapter moves on to other lines, naming the sons of Kohath and then the sons of Amram. This shows that Zina’s mention occurs within a broader set of genealogical and organizational notices in the chapter.

The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. (1 Chronicles 23:12, WEB)

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever. (1 Chronicles 23:13, WEB)

Within this flow, Zina’s role is that of a named descendant in Shimei’s line: “Zina” is one of “These four” counted as Shimei’s sons in 1 Chronicles 23:10.

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Hebrew as זִינָא, transliterated Ziyna’, and pronounced “zee-naw’.” Lexicon derivation relates it to a Hebrew root (zuw(n), זוּן) associated with the idea of being plump, yielding the sense “well-fed.” The lexicon also suggests it may be an orthographical error for a similar form (linked with Ziyza’, זִיזָא), described as “Ziza,” a name borne by two Israelites.

Observation

Zina is presented entirely through placement in a family list: “The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah,” with the summary, “These four were the sons of Shimei” (1 Chronicles 23:10, WEB).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Zina mean?

The name Zina is said to mean “well-fed.”

How many times does Zina appear in the Bible?

Zina appears 1 time.

Who was Zina in the Bible?

Zina is identified as an Israelite. In 1 Chronicles 23:10, Zina is listed among the sons of Shimei.

Where is Zina mentioned in the Bible?

Zina is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:10.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Zina 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).