8116. Shimrith
Lexical Summary
Shimrith: Shimrith

Original Word: שִׁמְרית
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Shimriyth
Pronunciation: shim-REETH
Phonetic Spelling: (shim-reeth')
KJV: Shimrith
NASB: Shimrith
Word Origin: [feminine of H8113 (שִׁמרִי - Shimri)]

1. female guard
2. Shimrith, a Moabitess

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shimrith

Feminine of Shimriy; female guard; Shimrith, a Moabitess -- Shimrith.

see HEBREW Shimriy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from shamar
Definition
a Moabite woman
NASB Translation
Shimrith (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שִׁמְרִית proper name, feminine Moabitish mother of one of Joash's murderers2Chronicles 24:26 (masculine Σομαιωθ, A Σαμαριθ; feminine ᵐ5L Σαμιραμωθ), "" שֹׁמֵר proper name, masculine 2 Kings 12:21.

Topical Lexicon
Scriptural Occurrence

The sole biblical mention of Shimrith is found in 2 Chronicles 24:26, where she is identified as “the Moabitess” and as the mother of Jehozabad, one of the two officials who assassinated King Joash of Judah.

Historical Setting

Joash began his reign under the godly influence of Jehoiada the priest, restoring the temple and re-establishing proper worship (2 Chronicles 24:4–14). After Jehoiada’s death, Joash capitulated to idolatry, silenced prophetic warning, and ordered the stoning of Jehoiada’s son Zechariah (24:17–22). Divine justice followed swiftly. A “small band” of Arameans defeated Judah (24:23–24), and Joash, gravely wounded, was murdered on his sickbed by his own servants. One of these servants was Jehozabad, son of Shimrith the Moabitess. Thus, Shimrith’s name is embedded in the climactic judgment that closed Joash’s apostasy.

Biographical Sketch

1. Ethnicity: Shimrith was a Moabitess. The Chronicler highlights her foreign origin, paralleling Zabad’s Ammonite lineage (2 Chronicles 24:26). By naming mothers and their Gentile backgrounds, Scripture underscores how non-Israelite influences penetrated the royal court.
2. Maternal Role: Though only briefly referenced, Shimrith’s significance lies in her son’s act. Jehozabad’s betrayal of his master fulfilled the prophecy of retribution for Zechariah’s martyrdom (24:22).
3. Parallel Account: 2 Kings 12:21 records the same event but names Jehozabad’s mother as “Shomer.” The Chronicler’s rendering “Shimrith” may preserve a fuller form of the name or reflect a textual variation. This harmonizes rather than contradicts; ancient Hebrew names often appeared in shortened or alternate spellings when transmitted across sources.

Theological and Moral Lessons

• Divine Justice Is Unavoidable

“The LORD executed judgment on Joash” (2 Chronicles 24:24). Shimrith’s son became an unwitting instrument of that justice. Even foreign lineages can serve God’s sovereign purposes, illustrating Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD.”

• Foreign Influence and the Covenant Community

Shimrith’s Moabite identity reminds readers of the porous borders of Judah’s society. While Ruth the Moabitess stands as a redeemed exemplar of covenant faith (Ruth 2:11–12), Shimrith forms a contrasting picture—her line participates in regicide. The Chronicler leverages this contrast to exhort post-exilic readers to guard against syncretism without fostering ethnic pride, maintaining a holy yet hospitable community.

• The Peril of Spiritual Drift

Joash’s downfall began when he “listened to the officials of Judah” (2 Chronicles 24:17). Shimrith and other foreign figures at court illustrate the alliances Joash cultivated after forsaking the LORD. Their presence itself is not condemned; rather, Joash’s failure to remain covenant-loyal opened the door to destructive counsel.

Ministry Implications

1. Leadership Vigilance: Pastors and elders must finish well; early zeal does not guarantee lifelong faithfulness. Joash’s end warns against complacency after seasons of revival.
2. Discipleship of the Next Generation: Jehoiada’s absence left a vacuum. Churches should raise leaders who can stand firm when mentors depart.
3. Evangelism with Discernment: The narrative invites engagement with “outsiders” while testing every spirit (1 John 4:1). Ruth became an ancestor of Messiah; Shimrith’s line facilitated judgment. Both outcomes lie within God’s providence, underscoring the need for gospel clarity.

Related Names and Variations

• Shomer (2 Kings 12:21) – likely an alternate spelling or contraction of Shimrith.
• Shimeath (mother of Zabad, 2 Chronicles 24:26) – another Gentile mother tied to Joash’s assassination.

Suggested Study and Application Points

• Compare the fates of rulers who listened to godly counsel (Hezekiah, Josiah) versus those who rejected it (Joash, Ahaz).
• Explore the roles of foreign women in Scripture—Ruth, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Shimrith—to discern themes of grace and warning.
• Reflect on how God employs unexpected agents to accomplish His will, reinforcing reliance on His sovereignty rather than human alliances.

Forms and Transliterations
שִׁמְרִ֖ית שמרית shimRit šim·rîṯ šimrîṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Chronicles 24:26
HEB: וִיה֣וֹזָבָ֔ד בֶּן־ שִׁמְרִ֖ית הַמּוֹאָבִֽית׃
NAS: the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
KJV: the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
INT: and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8116
1 Occurrence


šim·rîṯ — 1 Occ.

8115
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