Zimran
Zim'ran (Heb. Zimran', זַמרָן, celebrated; Sept. Σομβρᾶν v.r. Ζεμβράμ, Σεβραν, etc.; Vulg. Zama and Zacinr-imr), first named of the nine sons of Abraham by Keturah (Ge 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1, 32). B.C. cir. 2020. His descendants are not mentioned, nor is any hint given that he was the founder of a tribe; the contrary would rather appear to be the case. Some would identify Zimran with the Zimri of Jer 25:25, but these lay too far to the north. The Greek form of the name, as found in the Sept., has suggested a comparison with Ζαβράμ, the chief city of the Cinaedocolpitae, who dwelt On the Red Sea, west of Mecca. But this is extremely doubtful, for this tribe, probably the same with the ancient Kenda, was a branch of the Joktanite Arabs, who in the most ancient times occupied Yemen, and may only have come into possession of Zabram at a later period (Knobe], Genesis). Hitzig and Lengerke propose to connect the name Zimrari with Zimi? is a district of Ethiopia mentioned by Pliny (36, 25); but Grotius, with more plausibility, finds a trace of it in the Zameneni, a tribe of the interior of Arabia (Pliny, 6:32). 'The identification of Zimran with the modern Beni Omrnan and the ..Banin Zomneis of Diodorus, proposed by Mr. Forster (Geogr. of Arabia, 1, 431), cannot be seriously maintained. Winer (Handw. s.v.), suggests the Zimara of Asia Minor (Ptolemy, 5, 7, 2; Pliny, 10:20) or Zimycra (Zilpa) of Asia (Ptolemy, 6:17, 8). SEE ARABIA.
