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שֹׁהַם

𐤔𐤄𐤌

shôham

H7718 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain (root uncertain: possibly to blanch, be pale – unattested), precious gemstone, ornamental stone

Definition

A precious stone listed among the gems adorning the high priest's breastpiece and the settings on the priestly ephod; the specific variety is uncertain, but it is most often identified as onyx, though alternative identifications such as beryl, sardonyx, or malachite have been proposed due to the ambiguity of gem names in biblical Hebrew. The word refers consistently to an ornamental or ceremonial gemstone, likely valued for its color and rarity.

Semantic Range

onyx; ornamental gemstone; possibly beryl, sardonyx, malachite, or another valued stone; gem used for ceremonial, ritual, or decorative purposes in the priestly context

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. The traditional suggestion is that it derives from a hypothetical root שוה or a root meaning 'to blanch, become pale,' but there is no attested usage of such a root in Hebrew. The derivation remains speculative. The word is a loan or inherited term for a gemstone, with related words found in other Semitic languages (e.g., South Arabian swhm), though not with identical meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֹׁהַם appears primarily in priestly contexts (Exod 25–39), where it denotes gems used for ceremonial vestments—specifically, two stones set on the shoulders of the high priest, engraved with the names of the Israelite tribes, and a further mention among the breastpiece stones. The precise mineral corresponding to שֹׁהַם in modern gemology remains debated, as ancient classifications of stones did not align with modern scientific distinctions; the most consistent traditional identification, since antiquity, is onyx (a type of banded agate), but the actual color and variety remain uncertain. In post-exilic and later Jewish tradition, 'shoham' is consistently rendered as onyx, but Septuagint and Vulgate traditions give differing identifications (e.g., beryl, emerald). English translations generally prefer 'onyx,' yet this may not fully capture the breadth of the term in its ancient context. שֹׁהַם is notable for being associated with priestly sanctity and Israelite tribal memory, rather than commercial trade.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root probably mean to blanch; a gem, probably the beryl (from its pale green color); onyx.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁהם (uncertain) (š-h-m (uncertain)) — precious gemstone, ornamental stone

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7718-03 שֹׁ֕הַם shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone 6
H7718-02 הַ/שֹּֽׁהַם hashoham HTd/Ncmsa of the onyx the precious gemstone 3
H7718-04 וְ/שֹׁ֖הַם veshoham HC/Ncmsa and an onyx ornamental gemstone 1
H7718-01 בְּ/שֹׁ֖הַם beshoham HR/Ncmsa in-onyx ornamental gemstone 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7718-02 Genesis 2:12 הַ/שֹּֽׁהַם hashoham HTd/Ncmsa onyx the precious gemstone
H7718-03 Exodus 25:7 שֹׁ֕הַם shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone
H7718-03 Exodus 28:9 שֹׁ֑הַם shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone
H7718-04 Exodus 28:20 וְ/שֹׁ֖הַם veshoham HC/Ncmsa and an onyx ornamental gemstone
H7718-03 Exodus 35:9 שֹׁ֔הַם shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone
H7718-02 Exodus 35:27 הַ/שֹּׁ֔הַם hashoham HTd/Ncmsa of the onyx the precious gemstone
H7718-02 Exodus 39:6 הַ/שֹּׁ֔הַם hashoham HTd/Ncmsa the onyx the precious gemstone
H7718-03 Exodus 39:13 שֹׁ֖הַם shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone
H7718-03 Ezekiel 28:13 שֹׁ֨הַם֙ shoham HNcmsa onyx precious gemstone
H7718-01 Job 28:16 בְּ/שֹׁ֖הַם beshoham HR/Ncmsa in-onyx ornamental gemstone
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