Simon
Pronounced SY-mun
- Meaning
- "He has heard; Listening"
- Origin
- Hebrew (Shimon)
Simon means "he has heard" or "listening" in Hebrew. Several important biblical figures bear this name, most notably Simon Peter, who was renamed by Jesus. Simon was one of the most common Jewish names in the first century. Beyond Peter, the New Testament features Simon the Zealot (one of the twelve apostles), Simon of Cyrene (who carried Jesus' cross), Simon the leper (in whose house Jesus was anointed), and Simon the tanner (in whose house Peter had his vision of clean and unclean animals). The prevalence of the name in Scripture reflects its deep meaning — God hears. Each Simon in the Bible encountered Jesus or His message in a personal, transformative way, illustrating that God hears and responds to every individual.
Spiritual meaning
Simon's name — 'God has heard' — assures us that our prayers, cries, and longings reach God's ears. Every person named Simon in Scripture experienced God's personal attention.
Related verses (KJV)
"Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon."
Genesis 29:33 (KJV) →"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross."
Mark 15:21 (KJV) →