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יְרוּשָׁלֵם

𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌

Yerushalem

H3390 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain; possible meanings include 'foundation', 'peace', or 'Shalem (a deity)'

Definition

A proper noun denoting the city of Jerusalem, the central city associated with the Israelite and Judahite peoples, particularly as a political, cultural, and religious center from the monarchic period onward. The word specifically reflects the spelling found in Aramaic biblical books but refers to the same city as the more familiar Hebrew form. Its semantic range includes both the geographic city and, metonymically, the governing authority or populace resident in it.

Semantic Range

the physical city of Jerusalem, the governing authority or collective inhabitants of Jerusalem, symbolic/metaphorical uses for the center of religious/civic life

Root / Etymology

The term יְרוּשָׁלֵם (Yᵉrûwshâlêm) is the Aramaic spelling of the name for Jerusalem, corresponding to the standard Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûshâlayim). Derivation is uncertain; the root and ultimate etymology are debated. Proposed explanations relate the name to 'foundation of Shalem' (a deity attested in West Semitic texts), or possibly 'teaching of peace,' but these are not definitively established. In biblical texts, the Aramaic form reflects linguistic adaptation rather than a different origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יְרוּשָׁלֵם occurs exclusively in Aramaic passages (notably Daniel and Ezra) where the surrounding text is Aramaic, while the standard form יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם appears in Hebrew contexts. The name designates the historic city that became the capital of the united Israelite monarchy under David, continuing as a religious and political center throughout the Judahite, exilic, and post-exilic periods. In later English translations, 'Jerusalem' is used for both spellings, obscuring the language distinction. There is no difference in referent; rather, it is a question of orthography and linguistic environment. Some second temple and later sources in Aramaic preserve additional variants, but always refer to the same historic city. The term should not be conflated with later religious meanings tied to 'Judaism' or the post-biblical concept of the 'Jew,' though the city's association with these develops after the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם; {Jerusalem}; {Jerusalem}

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירשלם (uncertain) (y-r-š-l-m (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly foundation, peace, Shalem (deity)

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3390-05 בִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם virushelem AR/Np in Jerusalem in Jerusalem 15
H3390-06 יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם yerushelem ANp Jerusalem Jerusalem 4
H3390-02 לִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם lirushelem AR/Np to Jerusalem to Jerusalem 3
H3390-01 בִּ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם birushelem AR/Np in Jerusalem in Jerusalem 2
H3390-03 וּ/בִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם uvirushelem AC/R/Np and in Jerusalem and in Jerusalem 1
H3390-04 וְ/לִֽ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם velirushelem AC/R/Np and Jerusalem Jerusalem 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3390-05 Daniel 5:2 בִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם virushelem AR/Np in-Jerusalem in Jerusalem
H3390-05 Daniel 5:3 בִ/ירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם virushelem AR/Np was at Jerusalem in Jerusalem
H3390-06 Daniel 6:11 יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם yerushelem ANp Jerusalem Jerusalem
H3390-06 Ezra 4:8 יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם yerushelem ANp Jerusalem Jerusalem
H3390-02 Ezra 4:12 לִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם lirushelem AR/Np to Jerusalem to Jerusalem
H3390-06 Ezra 4:20 יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם yerushelem ANp Jerusalem Jerusalem
H3390-02 Ezra 4:23 לִ/ירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ lirushelem AR/Np to Jerusalem to Jerusalem
H3390-01 Ezra 4:24 בִּ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם birushelem AR/Np in Jerusalem in Jerusalem
H3390-03 Ezra 5:1 וּ/בִ/ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם uvirushelem AC/R/Np and in Jerusalem and in Jerusalem
H3390-05 Ezra 5:2 בִ/ירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם virushelem AR/Np in Jerusalem in Jerusalem
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