Jemima (Biblical character)
Encyclopedia
Jemima was the oldest of the three beautiful daughters of Job, named in the Bible as given to him in the later part of his life, after God made Job prosperous again. Jemima's younger sisters are named as Keziah
and Keren-Happuch. Job's sons, in contrast, are not named.
Jemima, along with her sisters, was described as more beautiful than all the other women in the land. Also, in common with her sisters, Jemima was granted an inheritance by her father, with her brothers as might have been expected. Apart from these brief references at the end of the Book of Job
, Jemima is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.
The name Jemima in Hebrew literally means "warm", i.e. affectionate and hence it is taken to mean dove
, which in Hebrew is also derived from the word for warmth.
In Job
42:14 (ESV
):
, notes that Jemima may mean either "day" or "dove", the latter on association with the Arabic word "jemama". Noting that there is a land in Arabia with the name Jemama or Yemama (see Al-Yamama
) which had a queen called Jemama, he conjectures that the Biblical Jemima may be connected with the Jamama of Arabic folklore.
Keziah
Keziah or Kezziah is a Hebrew name used in the Old Testament. A number of etymologies have been suggested, among them the Hebrew for Cassia, from the name for the spice tree....
and Keren-Happuch. Job's sons, in contrast, are not named.
Jemima, along with her sisters, was described as more beautiful than all the other women in the land. Also, in common with her sisters, Jemima was granted an inheritance by her father, with her brothers as might have been expected. Apart from these brief references at the end of the Book of Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
, Jemima is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.
The name Jemima in Hebrew literally means "warm", i.e. affectionate and hence it is taken to mean dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
, which in Hebrew is also derived from the word for warmth.
In Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
42:14 (ESV
English Standard Version
The English Standard Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible. It is a revision of the 1971 edition of the Revised Standard Version...
):
- "And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch"
Possible Arabian queen
The Christian theologian John GillJohn Gill (theologian)
John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
, notes that Jemima may mean either "day" or "dove", the latter on association with the Arabic word "jemama". Noting that there is a land in Arabia with the name Jemama or Yemama (see Al-Yamama
Al-Yamama
Al-Yamamah is an ancient district lying to the east of the plateau of Najd in modern-day Saudi Arabia, or sometimes more specifically, the now-extinct ancient village of Jaww Al-Yamamah, near Al-Kharj, after which the rest of the region was named...
) which had a queen called Jemama, he conjectures that the Biblical Jemima may be connected with the Jamama of Arabic folklore.