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צְמָרִי

𐤑𐤌𐤓𐤉

Tsemari

H6786 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צמר to shear, to be woolly (from the root, though not relevant for the gentilic)

Definition

Tsᵉmârîy denotes an inhabitant or descendant of a group or population associated with the settlement known in Hebrew as צְמָר (Zemar), designated in biblical genealogies as one of the Canaanite clans. The term specifically identifies a person connected to this locale, either by lineage or residence, and occurs chiefly within ethnonymic contexts in biblical texts. The word functions primarily as a gentilic, signifying place-based identity.

Semantic Range

descendant or inhabitant of Zemar, member of the Zemarite clan, ethnonym for a Canaanite group

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root צמר, but the place name צְמָר (Zemar) is of uncertain etymology and not otherwise attested in the Hebrew Bible outside of genealogical lists. The gentilic form צְמָרִי is created by the typical suffix -ִי (i), denoting origin or affiliation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Tsᵉmârîy is attested in Genesis 10:18 and 1 Chronicles 1:16 as part of the Table of Nations, designating the Zemarites as one of the several Canaanite subgroups descended from Canaan. The biblical texts provide no further narrative detail about this group beyond their genealogical mention. The name links to the city of Zemar (modern Tell es-Semr in Syria, possibly ancient Sumur), one of the cities listed in Egyptian and Ugaritic sources as located in the northern Canaanite region. English translations such as 'Zemarite' are attempts to render a term denoting geographic-clan identity, but these often mask the original Israelite perspective of neighbor populations. This term is not employed beyond genealogical lists and does not feature in later biblical narratives or legal materials. The word does not convey religious or legal status; rather it marks ethnographic or geographic affiliation as understood in the context of ancient Israelite genealogies.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patrial from an unused name of a place in Palestine; a Tsemarite or branch of the Canaanites; Zemarite.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צמר (ṣ-m-r) — to shear, to be woolly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6785 צֶמֶר in wool
H6787 צְמָרַיִם Double-Fleece Heights
H6788 צַמֶּרֶת from the woolly treetop of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6786-01 הַ/צְּמָרִ֖י hatsemari HTd/Ngmsa the Zemarite the Zemarite 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6786-01 Genesis 10:18 הַ/צְּמָרִ֖י hatsemari HTd/Ngmsa the Zemarite the Zemarite
H6786-01 1 Chronicles 1:16 הַ/צְּמָרִ֖י hatsemari HTd/Ngmsa Zemarite the Zemarite
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