Brief Overview of Σίμων (Strong’s G4613: Simon)

Strong’s G4613: A personal name of Hebrew origin (שִׁמְעוֹן, Shimon), meaning “hearing” or “he has heard.” Simon appears prominently in the New Testament as the birth name of Peter and several other figures, symbolizing divine listening and obedience in biblical narrative.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σίμων represents more than just a common name in the New Testament era – it carries deep theological significance rooted in Hebrew tradition. Derived from the Hebrew name שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimon), meaning “hearing” or “he has heard,” it connects to the Genesis account where Leah names her second son Simeon because “the LORD heard that I was unloved” (Genesis 29:33). This theme of divine hearing and response characterizes the biblical narrative surrounding various Simons, most notably Simon Peter. The name’s meaning takes on special significance in Peter’s case, as he became one who truly “heard” Christ’s call and responded in faith, despite his initial struggles and doubts.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σίμων, Simōn, see-MOHN
• Detailed Pronunciation: σί (see) μών (mone) – stress on second syllable
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Masculine

Etymology:

• From Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimon)
• Root שָׁמַע (shama) meaning “to hear”
• Hellenized form adopted into Greek usage

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary designation for multiple New Testament figures
• Literal meaning: “one who hears”
• Metaphorical meaning: “hearkening” or “listening attentively”

Translation Options:

• Simon – most common English rendering
• Simeon – alternate form highlighting Hebrew origins
• Symeon – transliteration preserving Greek pronunciation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Συμεών (Symeōn, sim-eh-OHN) – See G4826: More directly preserves Hebrew form
• Πέτρος (Petros, PET-ros) – See G4074: Given name to Simon by Jesus
• Κηφᾶς (Kēphas, kay-FAS) – See G2786: Aramaic equivalent of Peter

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Accusative (Σίμωνα), Genitive (Σίμωνος), Dative (Σίμωνι)
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Third declension

The name follows standard Greek third declension patterns for masculine proper nouns, with case endings indicating its grammatical function in sentences.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies Σίμων as one of the most frequent personal names in the New Testament, appearing over 70 times. Thayer’s emphasizes its Hebrew origins and connection to divine hearing. LSJ notes its widespread use in Hellenistic culture beyond Jewish contexts. Vine’s highlights the significance of Simon Peter’s name change, while Moulton and Milligan provide evidence of its common usage in papyri and secular documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Matthew 4:18: “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, [Simon] [Σίμων] called Peter and his brother Andrew.”

Additional References:
Matthew 10:2, Mark 1:16, Luke 4:38, John 1:41, Acts 10:5

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σίμων embodies the transformative power of truly hearing God’s call. Through Simon Peter, we see how God takes one who hears and transforms them into a rock of faith. This name reminds us that the good news of King Jesus begins with hearing His call and responding in obedience, just as Simon Peter left his nets to follow Christ.

D – Did You Know?

• Σίμων was one of the most common Jewish names in first-century Palestine
• Nine different Simons are mentioned in the New Testament
• The name’s meaning influenced early Christian understanding of discipleship as “hearing and obeying”

Strong’s G4613: A personal name of Hebrew origin (שִׁמְעוֹן, Shimon), meaning “hearing” or “he has heard.” Simon appears prominently in the New Testament as the birth name of Peter and several other figures, symbolizing divine listening and obedience in biblical narrative.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: names, hebrew-origins, disciples, apostles, peter, hearing, obedience, transformation, discipleship, calling​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​