Overview
The Bible addresses zimri across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings, Numbers and 1 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Elah, Kings, Anger and Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Asa, Jehu, Moses and Aaron.
Key Bible verses about zimri
Old Testament
Numbers
And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. chief: Heb. house of a father
1 Kings
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. steward: Heb. which was over
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. neither: or, both his kinsmen and his friends
Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, by: Heb. by the hand of
For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,
For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. Zimri: or, Zabdi Dara: or, Darda
And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
People in the Bible and zimri
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying zimri for yourself
- Begin with Numbers 25:6, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Kings, Numbers and 1 Chronicles each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Asa, Jehu and Moses and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Elah, Kings, Anger and Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about zimri?
The Bible addresses zimri across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings, Numbers and 1 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Elah, Kings, Anger and Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Asa, Jehu, Moses and Aaron.
How many Bible verses are about zimri?
The Bible references zimri in 21 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention zimri?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Numbers 25:6: “And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with zimri?
Asa, Jehu, Moses, Aaron and Eleazar.
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