Lexical Summary Nimshi: Nimshi Original Word: נִמְשִׁי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nimshi Probably from mashah; extricated; Nimshi, the (grand-)father of Jehu -- Nimshi. see HEBREW mashah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof 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”. 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. 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 nimšîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 2 Kings 9:14 2 Kings 9:20 2 Chronicles 22:7 5 Occurrences |