Home › Glossary › Letter S

Shimei

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Benjamite who cursed David during Absalom’s rebellion but later sought pardon

Detailed Definition
Shimei, of Saul’s clan, hurled stones and insults at David (2 Samuel 16:5–14), later begged forgiveness, and was eventually executed by Solomon for violating parole (1 Kings 2:8–9, 36–46). In poetry, Shimei embodies the volatility of loyalty, the danger of opportunistic repentance, and the long shadow of tribal enmity—often portrayed as a figure whose words wound and whose fate warns of unresolved bitterness.
Example
Example in poetry:
In 2 Samuel 16:5–14, Shimei’s cursing inspires poetry about restraint in power; 18th-century verse depicts David’s refusal to kill Shimei as kingly grace; Contemporary poems explore Shimei’s later plea for mercy under Solomon; In poems about civil war, Shimei embodies factional hatred; Some liturgical laments include Shimei as voice of public shame; Educational poems cite Shimei to teach about forgiveness and justice.
Additional Notes
Shimei, of the house of Saul, curses David during Absalom’s rebellion but is later spared (2 Samuel 16, 19); Solomon later executes him for violating parole; his story explores mercy, vengeance, and the limits of clemency—rich for poems on justice, forgiveness, and political reconciliation.
Also Known As
Shimei son of Gera Shimei the Benjamite
Skip to main content