Bible Dictionary
Gemariah
Gemariah was the name of two men associated with Jeremiah’s ministry: one supported the preservation of Jeremiah’s written prophecy, and the other carried Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
Definition
Gemariah, meaning “Jehovah has made perfect” or “Yahweh has accomplished,” was the name of two men connected with Jeremiah’s ministry. One was the son of Shaphan; the other was the son of Hilkiah.
Biblical Usage
Gemariah son of Shaphan heard Baruch read Jeremiah’s prophecies and urged King Jehoiakim not to destroy the scroll. Gemariah son of Hilkiah was an ambassador to Babylon and carried Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish captives.
Historical Background
The two men served during the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah and were connected with royal, scribal, and diplomatic affairs.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Jehovah has made perfect. (1.) The son of Shaphan, and one of the Levites of the temple in the time of Jehoiakim (Jer. 36:10; 2 Kings 22:12). Baruch read aloud to the people from Gemariah’s chamber, and again in the hearing of Gemariah and other scribes, the prophecies of Jeremiah (Jer. 36:11-20), which filled him with terror. He joined with others in entreating the king not to destroy the roll of the prophecies which Baruch had read (21-25). (2.) The son of Hilkiah, who accompanied Shaphan with the tribute-money from Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar, and was the bearer at the same time of a letter from Jeremiah to the Jewish captives at Babylon (Jer. 29:3, 4).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(perfected by Jehovah).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gem-a-ri'-a (gemaryahu, gemaryah, "Yahweh hath accomplished"):</p><p>(1) Son of Shaphan the scribe, one of the princes, from whose chamber Baruch read Jeremiah's prophecies to the people. He, with others, sought to stay Jehoiakim from burning the roll (Jer 36:10,11,12,25).</p><p>(2) Son of Hilkiah, one of Zedekiah's ambassadors to Babylon, by whom Jeremiah sent his letter to the captives (Jer 29:3).</p>