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זַהַם

𐤆𐤄𐤌

Zaham

H2093 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זהם to be foul, to loathe, to abhor

Definition

Proper name referring to 'Zaham,' a personal name borne by a descendant of Shimei of the tribe of Judah in the monarchic period (1 Chronicles 23:10-11). The name likely conveys the sense of 'loathing' or 'disgust,' reflecting the apparent verbal root meaning, but as a proper name its function is to identify an individual rather than to convey a general sense of abhorrence.

Semantic Range

proper name (personal name); by derivation, loathing, abhorrence (from verbal root); exclusively used as a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root זהם, which is associated with the idea of 'being foul, having loathing, to abhor.' זַהַם is a masculine proper noun formed directly from this root, most likely functioning as a descriptive or expressive name originating from the verb's semantic field.

Historical & Contextual Notes

זַהַם appears only as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles. The bearer is identified as a descendant of Shimei, relating him to the tribe of Judah in the context of post-exilic genealogical organization. The semantic association with 'loathing' is apparent from the root, though the reason for its application as a personal name is unclear. No evidence suggests that זַהַם was used as a common noun or descriptive epithet elsewhere in the biblical corpus. English translations generally preserve the transliteration 'Zaham.' The use of names based on negative attributes (paralleling other biblical examples, such as Ichabod) reflects Hebrew naming conventions attested across various periods. The term does not carry religious or ethnic connotations beyond identifying its bearer as an Israelite in a genealogical context. Later translations may associate the term with 'Jew,' but in its biblical occurrence, the reference is specifically to an individual of Judahite descent within the Israelite genealogical tradition.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָהַם; loathing; Zaham, an Israelite; Zaham.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זהם (z-h-m) — to be foul, to loathe, to abhor

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2092 זָהַם she has defiled him

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2093-01 זָֽהַם zaham HNp Zaham Zaham 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2093-01 2 Chronicles 11:19 זָֽהַם zaham HNp Zaham Zaham
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