Zimri

At a Glance

Biblical proper name; multiple Old Testament referents.

Key Points

• Best-known bearers include Zimri son of Salu in Numbers 25 and King Zimri in 1 Kings 16.
• The name also appears in other genealogical or historical contexts.
• This is a person-name entry, not a doctrinal or theological term.

Description

Zimri is a biblical proper name borne by several individuals in the Old Testament. Two referents are especially prominent: Zimri son of Salu, associated with the judgment at Baal-peor in Numbers 25, and Zimri, the commander who assassinated King Elah, seized the throne of Israel, and reigned only seven days before Omri prevailed in 1 Kings 16. The name also appears in other genealogical or historical notices. As a result, Zimri should be treated as a biblical proper-name entry rather than a theological term.

Biblical Context

The name Zimri appears in contexts of judgment, leadership failure, and brief historical notice. In Numbers 25, Zimri son of Salu is linked to covenant unfaithfulness and divine judgment. In 1 Kings 16, Zimri’s seven-day reign becomes a vivid example of political instability in the northern kingdom.

Historical Context

The best-known royal Zimri belonged to the turbulent period of the divided monarchy in Israel. His brief reign followed a palace conspiracy and ended when Omri established control. The episode illustrates the instability that marked Israel’s dynastic politics in the ninth century B.C.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Jewish reading, the name Zimri is remembered through its narrative settings rather than as a doctrinal label. The Numbers 25 account emphasizes covenant faithfulness and the seriousness of idolatry and sexual immorality, while the Kings account highlights the downfall of illegitimate rule.

Primary Key Texts

• Numbers 25:14
• 1 Kings 16:9-20

Secondary Key Texts

• Other genealogical and historical references to Zimri in 1 Chronicles and related Old Testament lists.

Original Language Note

From Hebrew צִמְרִי (Zimrî), a personal name.

Theological Significance

Zimri’s biblical appearances reinforce themes of covenant accountability, divine judgment, and the brevity of human power. The name itself is not a doctrine, but the narratives attached to it carry moral and theological weight.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Zimri functions by reference to particular historical persons rather than by abstract definition. Its significance comes from the events associated with those persons in the biblical narrative.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the different individuals named Zimri. The best-known figures should be distinguished by their contexts: Numbers 25 and 1 Kings 16. Because this is a proper name, it should not be treated as a standalone theological category.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal dispute about the name itself, though interpreters distinguish among the several biblical figures called Zimri and discuss the historical details of the royal Zimri’s short reign.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should remain descriptive and text-based. It should not be used to build doctrine beyond the moral and theological lessons explicitly drawn from the biblical narratives.

Practical Significance

The Zimri narratives warn readers about the seriousness of sin, the instability of human power, and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. They also show how a single name may refer to more than one biblical person, requiring careful reading of context.

Related Entries

• Baal-peor
• Elah
• Omri
• Numbers
• 1 Kings

See Also

• Achan
• Absalom
• Omri
• divided kingdom