English · KJV
H4927

מִשְׁמָע

Mishmâʻ /mish-maw'/ Ask about this word
Rootthe same as מִשְׁמָע
MeaningMishma, the name of a son of Ishmael, and of an Israelite
KJV usageMishma.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Mishmâʻ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew name Mishmâʻ, represented by H4927, identifies two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses. The name is used to denote both a son of Ishmael and a separate Israelite individual, serving exclusively as a genealogical marker.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4927 is used to establish lineage in two different family lines. First, Mishma is listed as one of the sons of Ishmael in the accounts found in both Genesis and 1 Chronicles (Genesis 25:14; 1 Chronicles 1:30). Second, the name appears in an Israelite genealogy, where Mishma is identified as the son of Mibsam 1 Chronicles 4:25. This same Mishma is then recorded as the father of Hamuel, Zacchur, and Shimei 1 Chronicles 4:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear in the context of these genealogies, defining the familial relationships of Mishmâʻ:

  • H1121 bên (a son): This word is essential to the verses where Mishma is mentioned, defining his relationship as a son to Mibsam and a father to his own sons (1 Chronicles 4:25; 1 Chronicles 4:26).
  • H1746 Dûwmâh (Dumah, a tribe and region of Arabia): Listed as a brother of Mishma in the genealogies of Ishmael's sons (Genesis 25:14; 1 Chronicles 1:30).
  • H4017 Mibsâm (fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite): Identified as the father of the Israelite Mishma 1 Chronicles 4:25.
  • H2536 Chammûwʼêl (anger of God; Chammuel, an Israelite): Named as a son of the Israelite Mishma, continuing his lineage 1 Chronicles 4:26.

Theological Significance

The significance of H4927 is rooted entirely in its genealogical function, establishing identity and succession.

  • Ishmaelite Progenitor: Mishma is recorded as a son of Ishmael, placing him within the ancestral lists of the peoples descended from Abraham through Hagar (Genesis 25:14; 1 Chronicles 1:30).
  • Israelite Lineage: The name's appearance in 1 Chronicles shows a separate individual named Mishma within an Israelite family line, identified as the son of Mibsam 1 Chronicles 4:25.
  • Generational Link: The record provides continuity by not only naming Mishma's father but also listing his sons, thereby securing his place as a link between generations in the Israelite record 1 Chronicles 4:26.

Summary

In summary, H4927 Mishmâʻ is a proper name whose sole function in scripture is to mark an individual's place within a genealogy. It appears in two distinct contexts: once to identify a son of Ishmael, and again to identify an Israelite father and son. The name's importance lies in its contribution to the detailed ancestral records maintained in Genesis and 1 Chronicles.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מִשְׁמָע

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H1746 דּוּמָה the same as דּוּמָה; Dumah, a tribe and region of Arabia; Dumah. H4017 מִבְשָׂם from the same as בֶּשֶׂם; fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite; Mibsam. H2536 חַמּוּאֵל from חַמָּה and אֵל; anger of God; Chammuel, an Israelite; Hamuel.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Chronicles (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
3
1 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.