Person in the Old and New Testaments
Simeon (Leah’s son)
Simeon: Leah’s son, violence at Shechem and detention in Egypt
Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Simeon looked.
Who Simeon is
Simeon is a son of Leah and Jacob. Leah names him after saying that the Lord has heard she is unloved. After Shechem violates their sister Dinah, Simeon and Levi attack the city while its males are recovering from circumcision. They kill all the males, including Hamor and Shechem, and bring Dinah out of Shechem's house. Jacob fears that their action will bring destruction on his household; the brothers answer by appealing to the treatment of their sister. The narrative reports their answer without presenting the killing as a command from God.
Cited passages: Genesis 29:33, Genesis 35:23, Genesis 34:2, Genesis 34:13, Genesis 34:24, Genesis 34:25, Genesis 34:26, Genesis 34:30, Genesis 34:31
Historical setting
In Egypt, Joseph requires one brother to remain in custody while the others take grain home and return with their youngest brother. He binds Simeon in front of them. When they return with Benjamin, Joseph's steward brings Simeon out to them. The account does not explain why Joseph chose him. Exodus later names Simeon among Jacob's family in Egypt and lists his sons as Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Shaul, identifying Shaul's mother as a Canaanite woman. Other lists use Nemuel, Jarib and Zerah, and omit Ohad; they do not narrate the reasons for these differences. Joshua assigns the later tribe its inheritance within Judah's portion, explaining that Judah's allotment was too large for it.
Cited passages: Genesis 42:19, Genesis 42:20, Genesis 42:24, Genesis 43:15, Genesis 43:19, Genesis 43:23, Exodus 1:1, Exodus 1:2, Exodus 6:15, Numbers 26:12, Numbers 26:13, 1 Chronicles 4:24, Joshua 19:1, Joshua 19:9
How the story is told
Jacob addresses Simeon and Levi together in Genesis 49, condemning their violence and cursing their fierce anger. He speaks of dividing them in Jacob and scattering them in Israel. The wording of verse 6 differs: the KJV speaks of digging down a wall, while the ASV and BBE describe harm to an ox or oxen. Later, Judges speaks of Judah and Simeon acting together after Joshua's death; these are the tribes, not the two ancestors returning to battle. Simeon's name also remains in Ezekiel's land and gate lists and Revelation's list of sealed tribes.
Cited passages: Genesis 49:1, Genesis 49:2, Genesis 49:5, Genesis 49:6, Genesis 49:7, Judges 1:1, Judges 1:3, Judges 1:17, Ezekiel 48:24, Ezekiel 48:31, Ezekiel 48:33, Revelation 7:7
Story moments
- Leah names Simeon (Genesis 29:33). Leah gives the name after saying the Lord has heard that she is unloved.
- Simeon and Levi attack the city (Genesis 34:25). The brothers kill the males while they are recovering from circumcision.
- Joseph binds Simeon (Genesis 42:24). Joseph takes Simeon and binds him in front of his brothers.
- Simeon rejoins his brothers (Genesis 43:23). Joseph's steward brings him out when the brothers return to Egypt.
- Jacob condemns the brothers’ anger (Genesis 49:7). Jacob curses their fierce anger and speaks of division and scattering.
Key passages
Genesis 29:33
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Genesis 34:25
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
Genesis 34:30
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Genesis 42:24
And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
Genesis 42:36
And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
King James Version. 43 indexed passages in total.
For reflection
How do the brothers' defense of their actions and Jacob's condemnation shape your reading of the violence at Shechem?
Books Simeon appears in
Related people
Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.