Simeon was Jacob and Leah's second son and the founder of the Tribe of Simeon, as related in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. The name "Shim'on" appears to be a contraction of the Hebrew words "Shama'" (שמע) & "'on," (עון), which means, "[God] has heard of my suffering," a reference to Leah's perception that Rachel was Jacob's favorite wife.