Bible Locations

Zimri appears in Jeremiah 25:25, in a list of nations that would drink the cup of God's wrath: "all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media." Since it's listed with Elam and Media, both east of Mesopotamia, in Iran, Zimri was probably a people or region in the same area. Its location is unknown. Some scholars connect it with Zimran, a son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2), whose descendants may have lived in Arabia. Others think it's a code word, like Sheshach for Babylon, using the atbash cipher, which would make Zimri stand for Elam, but that's uncertain. Others suggest the Cimmerians. The name may mean "musician" or "wild goat." Zimri is also the name of a king of Israel who ruled only seven days and of an Israelite killed by Phinehas at Peor.