יִתְמָה
𐤉𐤕𐤌𐤄
Yitemah
H3495 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yithmâh — a personal name referring to an individual who was a member of the tribe of Simeon. The name most likely means 'orphan' or 'he is orphaned,' reflecting a sense of being without parents, but as a proper noun functions as an Israelite name rather than a common noun. The semantic range is restricted to the use as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
proper name, 'he is orphaned,' 'Yithmâh' as an individual Simeonite; related etymologically to 'orphan' (yātôm) but used only as a name
Root / Etymology
From the root יתמ (y-t-m), which carries the sense 'to be fatherless, orphaned.' The suffix '-âh' may be a theophoric or expressive ending. The usage here is as a personal name formed from this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Yithmâh appears in 1 Chronicles 4:17, where he is listed among Simeonite leaders. The name is etymologically related to יָתוֹם (yātôm, 'orphan'), and its formation is consistent with biblical naming practices where personal names may reflect familial or existential states (such as being orphaned). There is no indication that the character himself was an orphan; rather, the name likely employs the root metaphorically or as a family tradition. English translations usually transliterate the name as 'Ithmah,' sometimes obscuring its connection to the underlying Hebrew root יתמ. The use of such a root in a personal name is comparatively rare but not unknown in the Hebrew Bible. The word does not appear as a common noun or title outside this personal name in the biblical text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as יָתוֹם; orphanage; Jithmah, an Israelite; Ithmah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יתמ (y-t-m) — to be fatherless, to be orphaned
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3495-01 |
וְ/יִתְמָ֖ה | veyitemah | HC/Np |
and Ithmah | and He-is-Orphaned | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3495-01 |
1 Chronicles 11:46 | וְ/יִתְמָ֖ה | veyitemah | HC/Np |
and Ithmah | and He-is-Orphaned |