The name Mirmah (spelled Mirma in the King James Version) means “deceit,” “fraud,” or “height.” In the scriptural record, this name belongs to a single individual within the tribal genealogies of Israel.
The Patriarch and Chief of Benjamin
Mirma was a patriarchal head from the tribe of Benjamin, born in the land of Moab.
His lineage is detailed in 1 Chronicles 8, a chapter explicitly dedicated to documenting the ancestral lines, military captains, and regional rulers of the Benjamite territory. Mirma was one of the seven sons born to Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh.
The King James Version records his exact position within the family structure in 1 Chronicles 8:9–10: “And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham, And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.”
Though no specific personal exploits or spoken words are recorded for Mirma, his classification as a “head of the fathers” carries immense structural weight. In the ancient Hebrew governance system, the heads of the fathers were the elite rulers of entire clan networks. They were responsible for maintaining the physical boundaries of their inheritance, leading tribal assemblies, administering local justice, and mobilizing thousands of warriors for the national defense. Mirma’s name stands as a verified historical pillar for the expansion of the tribe of Benjamin.