מִבְשָׂם
𐤌𐤁𐤔𐤌
Mivesam
H4017 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'fragrant' or possibly 'my fragrance.' Used as the name of two individuals in the Hebrew Bible: 1) a descendant of Ishmael and 2) a descendant of Simeon (Israelite). The word carries an adjectival nuance relating to pleasant scent, generally understood as a positive attribute.
Semantic Range
fragrant, my fragrance, personal name; Mibsam (Ishmaelite), Mibsam (Israelite)
Root / Etymology
From the root בשׂם (b-s-m), meaning 'to smell sweet,' 'to be fragrant,' or referring to aromatic substances/spices. The form מִבְשָׂם appears to be a personal name formed with the mem-prefix, possibly signifying 'place of fragrance' or functioning as the construct 'my fragrance.' However, in name-formation, mem-prefixes often do not preserve their original semantic force and may denote simple association. Thus, 'fragrant' is a reasonable rendering, reflecting the underlying root idea.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִבְשָׂם appears only as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, once as a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29), marking him as a chief among Ishmaelite tribes, and once as a descendant of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:25). The name draws on the positive connotations of fragrance, which was associated with pleasantness and value, particularly in the ancient world where aromatic spices and incense played critical commercial and ritual roles. The underlying root בשׂם is the source of the common noun 'spice, perfume' (בֶּשֶׂם). While later translations, including the KJV, simply transliterate the name, the semantic value reflects cultural appreciation for fragrance. The use as a personal name does not denote ethnicity or religious identity, but rather likely invokes a desirable attribute. 'Mibsâm' does not carry the specific cultic or ritual connotations attached to incense or frankincense terms elsewhere (such as קְטֹרֶת).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as בֶּשֶׂם; fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and of an Israelite; Mibsam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בשׂם (b-s-m) — to be fragrant, to smell sweet, to emit aromatic scent
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1313 | בָּשָׂם | my fragrant resin |
| H1315 | בׇּשְׂמַת | Fragrant One |
| H3005 | יִבְשָׂם | And Fragrant-One |
| H7643 | שְׂבָם | Sibmah |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4017-02 |
וּ/מִבְשָֽׂם | umivesam | HC/Np |
and Mibsam | and Fragrant | 2 |
H4017-01 |
מִבְשָׂ֥ם | mivesam | HNp |
Mibsam | Fragrant One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4017-02 |
Genesis 25:13 | וּ/מִבְשָֽׂם | umivesam | HC/Np |
and Mibsam | and Fragrant |
H4017-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:29 | וּ/מִבְשָֽׂם | umivesam | HC/Np |
and Mibsam | and Fragrant |
H4017-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:25 | מִבְשָׂ֥ם | mivesam | HNp |
Mibsam | Fragrant One |