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עַזְמָוֶת

𐤏𐤆𐤌𐤅𐤕

Azemavet

H5820 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ע-ז-מ-ו-ת to be strong, mighty; to die, death

Definition

Azmaveth is a personal and place name appearing in the Hebrew Bible. As a proper noun, it refers to several individual Israelites from the monarchic period and to a locale associated with the return from exile. Etymologically, the name combines elements suggesting 'strength' and 'death', though its precise significance as a theophoric or memorial name is uncertain. Generally, the word functions as a proper noun, not a common noun.

Semantic Range

proper name of individuals, proper name of a location; no use as a common noun

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew words עַז (ʿaz, meaning 'strong, mighty') and מָוֶת (mavet, meaning 'death'), combined as a compound name. The root ע-ז conveys strength or power, while מ-ו-ת refers to death. The combination may indicate 'strong as death', 'strength of death', or possibly 'my strength is death,' though the exact nuance is debated. Used only as a proper name; the combination does not function as a common noun in Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Azmaveth appears as the name of: (1) a Benjamite warrior who supported David (1 Chronicles 12:3), (2) one of King David’s royal treasurers (1 Chronicles 27:25), (3) a father of an individual returning from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:24; Nehemiah 7:28), and (4) as a place associated with post-exilic Judean resettlement near Jerusalem (possibly identified with Beit Azmaveth, modern Hizmeh, though certainty is lacking). The meaning of the name likely reflects either parental hopes or memorialization but cannot be connected with cultic or ethnic identity directly. English Bibles retain 'Azmaveth' as the transliterated name; the etymological sense is not reflected in translation. The presence of the element מָוֶת ('death') in a personal name is unusual but not unique in ancient west Semitic onomastics. The use of this name across both pre- and post-exilic periods shows continuity in onomastic traditions, but there is no evidence for broader secular or cultic meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עַז and מָוֶת; strong one of death; Azmaveth, the name of three Israelites and of a place in Palestine; Azmaveth. See also בֵּית עַזְמָוֶת.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עזמות (ʿ-z-m-w-t) — strength, might; death

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5820-01 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth 7
H5820-02 וְ/עַזְמָ֑וֶת veazemavet HC/Np and Azmaveth and Azmaveth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5820-01 2 Samuel 23:31 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-01 Ezra 2:24 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-02 Nehemiah 12:29 וְ/עַזְמָ֑וֶת veazemavet HC/Np and Azmaveth and Azmaveth
H5820-01 1 Chronicles 8:36 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-01 1 Chronicles 9:42 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-01 1 Chronicles 11:33 עַזְמָ֨וֶת֙ azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-01 1 Chronicles 12:3 עַזְמָ֑וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
H5820-01 1 Chronicles 27:25 עַזְמָ֖וֶת azemavet HNp Azmaveth Azmaveth
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