5250. Nimshi
Lexical Summary
Nimshi: Nimshi

Original Word: נִמְשִׁי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Nimshiy
Pronunciation: nim-SHEE
Phonetic Spelling: (nim-shee')
KJV: Nimshi
NASB: Nimshi
Word Origin: [probably from H4871 (מָשָׁה - drew)]

1. extricated
2. Nimshi, the (grand-)father of Jehu

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Nimshi

Probably from mashah; extricated; Nimshi, the (grand-)father of Jehu -- Nimshi.

see HEBREW mashah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
grandfather of Jehu
NASB Translation
Nimshi (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
נִמְשִׁי proper name, masculine grandfather of Jehu 2 Kings 9:2,14; ׳יֵהוּא בֶןנֿ 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:20; 2Chronicles 22:7; ᵐ5 Ναμεσθει, Ναμες(ς)ει.

נֵס see נסס. נְסִבָּה see סבב.

נְסָה see נשׂא. Qal imperative

Topical Lexicon
Nimshi: Genealogy and Identity

Nimshi appears exclusively in connection with Jehu, the future king and reformer of the northern kingdom. Four texts (1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:2, 9:14; 2 Chronicles 22:7) speak of “Jehu son of Nimshi,” while 2 Kings 9:2 and 9:14 expand the line to “Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi.” The compound phrasing shows the biblical use of “son” to denote either direct paternity or more remote descent. The simplest resolution is that Nimshi was the grandfather of Jehu, with Jehoshaphat as the immediate father. Whatever the precise generational link, Scripture deliberately attaches Jehu to the household of Nimshi, marking that family as chosen for a decisive moment in Israel’s history.

Occurrences and Contexts

1 Kings 19:16 – Elijah receives the divine mandate: “Then you are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel”.
2 Kings 9:2 – Elisha’s messenger seeks Jehu for the anointing ceremony.
2 Kings 9:14 – Jehu’s conspiracy against Joram is launched.
2 Kings 9:20 – The watchman identifies Jehu’s distinctive driving: “the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously”.
2 Chronicles 22:7 – The Chronicler reaffirms that Jehu son of Nimshi was raised up “to destroy the house of Ahab.”

Historical Setting

The house of Omri had plunged Israel into Baal worship under Ahab and Jezebel. Their dynasty, though politically strong, courted God’s judgment. Nimshi’s descendant Jehu served as a commander in Israel’s army during the reigns of Ahab’s sons. Around 841 BC the Lord’s word, first spoken to Elijah at Horeb, was fulfilled when Jehu was anointed and soon executed sweeping judgment on the royal house. Thus Nimshi’s lineage became the instrument through which God cleansed Israel of flagrant idolatry.

Role in God’s Redemptive Plan

By naming Nimshi in the prophetic commission to Elijah, the Lord singled out an otherwise obscure family as a vessel for His purposes. The rise of Jehu highlights divine sovereignty: God can take a military officer from an unknown household and elevate him to the throne when national purification is required. Nimshi’s house thus stands as an example of how covenant faithfulness and judgment converge—Ahab’s dynasty falls, and a new one begins through a man divinely prepared in advance.

Ministry Significance and Prophetic Fulfillment

Elijah was commanded to anoint three figures—Hazael over Aram, Jehu over Israel, and Elisha as prophet (1 Kings 19:15–17). Each would be an agent of discipline. Although Elijah himself never performed Jehu’s anointing, Elisha completed the task, showing prophetic succession and the certainty of God’s word. Jehu, bearing Nimshi’s name, executed every decree: he slew Joram, Jezebel, the remaining heirs of Ahab, and the priests of Baal. These acts validated the prophetic message, confirmed the inerrancy of Scripture, and demonstrated that no earthly power can thwart God’s announced judgments.

Lessons and Applications

1. God’s plans often span generations; Elijah’s commission found fulfillment through Elisha in the line of Nimshi.
2. Family heritage does not limit God; He raises leaders from unexpected quarters when His glory demands it.
3. Prophetic accuracy builds confidence in Scripture’s reliability; the repeated identification “son of Nimshi” roots Jehu’s rise in verifiable history.
4. Zeal for the Lord must couple with faithful obedience—Jehu fulfilled judgment yet failed to eradicate the golden calves (2 Kings 10:29), illustrating that initial fervor must mature into lasting covenant loyalty.

Summary

Nimshi himself remains in the background, but his name frames a critical turning point in Israel’s monarchy. Through his descendant Jehu, God demonstrated both judgment on idolatry and fidelity to His prophetic word. The brief biblical spotlight on Nimshi reminds every generation that God can use any lineage to uphold His covenant purposes.

Forms and Transliterations
נִמְשִׁ֔י נִמְשִׁ֖י נִמְשִׁ֗י נמשי nim·šî nimShi nimšî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 19:16
HEB: יֵה֣וּא בֶן־ נִמְשִׁ֔י תִּמְשַׁ֥ח לְמֶ֖לֶךְ
NAS: the son of Nimshi you shall anoint
KJV: the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint
INT: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shall anoint king

2 Kings 9:2
HEB: יְהוֹשָׁפָ֜ט בֶּן־ נִמְשִׁ֗י וּבָ֙אתָ֙ וַהֲקֵֽמֹתוֹ֙
NAS: the son of Nimshi, and go
KJV: the son of Nimshi, and go in,
INT: of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi and go arise

2 Kings 9:14
HEB: יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־ נִמְשִׁ֖י אֶל־ יוֹרָ֑ם
NAS: the son of Nimshi conspired
KJV: the son of Nimshi conspired
INT: of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi against Joram

2 Kings 9:20
HEB: יֵה֣וּא בֶן־ נִמְשִׁ֔י כִּ֥י בְשִׁגָּע֖וֹן
NAS: the son of Nimshi, for he drives
KJV: the son of Nimshi; for he driveth
INT: of Jehu the son of Nimshi for furiously

2 Chronicles 22:7
HEB: יֵה֣וּא בֶן־ נִמְשִׁ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְשָׁח֣וֹ
NAS: Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD
KJV: the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD
INT: Jehu the son of Nimshi whom had anointed

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5250
5 Occurrences


nim·šî — 5 Occ.

5249
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