Bible Dictionary
Zimran
A son of Abraham by Keturah. His descendants are not described in Scripture.
Definition
Zimran was the eldest son of Abraham and Keturah. Scripture records his ancestry but does not describe his descendants or identify him as the founder of a tribe.
Biblical Usage
Zimran is listed among Abraham’s sons by Keturah in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32.
Historical Background
The supplied material gives variant suggestions for the name’s meaning and mentions proposed connections with groups or clans, but does not establish any of them as certain.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Vine-dressers; celebrated, one of the sons of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:2).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(celebrated), the eldest son of Keturah. (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32) His descendants are not mentioned, nor is any hint given that he was the founder of a tribe. (B.C. 1855.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>zim'-ran (zimran, from zemer, "wild sheep" or "wild goat," the ending -an being gentilic; Skinner, Genesis, 350): Son of Abraham and Keturah (Ge 25:2; 1Ch 1:32). The various manuscripts of the Septuagint give the name in different forms, e.g. in Ge A, Zebran; Codex Sinaiticus Zemran; Codex Alexandrinus(1) Zembram; D(sil) Zombran; and Lucian Zemran; in Chronicles, Codex Vaticanus has Zembran, Codex Alexandrinus Zemran, Lucian Zemran (compare Brooke and McLean's edition of the Septuagint for Genesis).</p><p>Hence, some have connected the name with Zabram of Ptol. vi.7,5, West of Mecca; others with the Zamareni of Pliny (Ant. vi.158) in the interior of Arabia; but according to Skinner and E. Meyer (see Gunkel, Gen3, 261) these would be too far south. Curtis (Chronicles, 72) says the name is probably to be identified with the "Zimri" of Jer 25:25. It would then be the name of a clan, with the mountain sheep or goat as its totem.</p><p>See TOTEMISM.</p><p>David Francis Roberts</p>