Wednesday, March 8, 2023

שִׁמְעוֹן (šimʿon, pronounced si·mee·uhn) is the name of the second son born to Leah and Jacob. The name שִׁמְעוֹן (šimʿon) is a play on the Hebrew verb שמע (šāmaʿ), which means “to hear.” A folk etymology for the name שִׁמְעוֹן (šimʿon) can be seen in Genesis 29:33, “She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard (שמע) that I am hated, he has given me this son also”; and she named him Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן).”