שְׁוָא
𐤔𐤅𐤀
Sheva
H7724 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
(1) Name of an Israelite: Sheva. Refers to a proper noun, specifically an individual in Judah's royal lineage in the context of genealogical records. (2) The word shares its form with the noun שָׁוְא (shāwʼ), meaning 'emptiness, nothingness, deceit,' but the proper noun is distinct in usage and function. The primary meaning here is as a personal name rather than as a common noun.
Semantic Range
Sheva (personal name), proper noun; unrelated in usage to 'nothingness, vanity, falsehood' though sharing form with common noun
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁוא. The noun שָׁוְא (shāwʼ) means 'emptiness, vanity, falsehood,' but as a proper name, שְׁוָא likely shares cognate form but its semantic link to 'emptiness' is not necessarily intended in the naming. The use as a proper noun is likely a secondary development or use of the root for naming without direct semantic intent.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שְׁוָא (Sheva) appears as a personal name (e.g., 1 Chronicles 2:49) in genealogical lists, specifically among those related to the tribe of Judah. While the form is etymologically identical to the word for 'vanity' or 'falsehood,' such semantic nuance does not typically transfer directly to the meaning of the proper noun in context. No evidence suggests that the individual bore an epithet or nickname based on the root meaning; rather, it fits conventional Israelite naming patterns. English translations typically preserve the transliterated form 'Sheva,' but earlier translations sometimes render it in ways that obscure its origin or conflate it with the common noun. It is distinct from other similar-sounding names (e.g., Sheba, Saba) that refer to different individuals or regions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as שָׁוְא; false; Sheva, an Israelite; Sheva.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שבע (š-b-ʿ) — fullness, completeness, satisfaction, oath-taking
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1339 | בַּת־שֶׁבַע | seven |
| H3090 | יְהוֹשַׁבְעַת | YHWH-has-sworn |
| H7620 | שָׁבוּעַ | in your seven-cycles |
| H7621 | שְׁבוּעָה | by oath-of |
| H7637 | שְׁבִיעִי | in the seventh |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7724-02 |
וּ/שְׁוָ֖א | usheva | HC/Np |
was secretary | and seven | 1 |
H7724-01 |
שְׁוָ֛א | sheva | HNp |
Sheva | seven | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7724-02 |
2 Samuel 20:25 | וּ/שְׁוָ֖א | usheva | HC/Np |
was secretary | and seven |
H7724-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:49 | שְׁוָ֛א | sheva | HNp |
Sheva | seven |