שֹׁהַם
𐤔𐤄𐤌
Shoham
H7719 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name: Shoham, used as a proper noun referring to an individual among the Israelites. The name likely means 'onxy stone' or is derived from the term for this gemstone. In biblical usage, it appears as the name of a son of Jaaziel, of the tribe of Simeon.
Semantic Range
Shoham as a proper noun (personal name), Shoham as the term for the onyx stone (a precious gem); in personal naming, denoting the bearer or perhaps a quality associated with the gemstone.
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שֹׁהַם, commonly denoting 'onyx' (a precious stone); the name likely derives from or is related to this term, possibly meaning 'onyx' or 'onyx stone.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shoham occurs in genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 7:32) as a personal name among Israelite tribal lineages. The use of precious stones as the basis for personal names reflects a common naming convention in the biblical period, where desirable or valuable objects provided the semantic source for individual names. Although modern English translations sometimes simply transliterate the name, some traditions have translated or interpreted it as relating to the gemstone itself. The correspondence between the personal name and the gemstone is not always acknowledged in translation tradition. Not to be confused with occurrences of שֹׁהַם as the noun for the onyx stone (e.g., Exodus 28:20; 39:13), which is unrelated as a proper noun when used as a personal name. The use of related terminology such as 'Jew' is not historically apt, as Shoham should be understood as an Israelite of the tribal structure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שֹׁהַם; Shoham, an Israelite; Shoham.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁהם (sh-h-m) — onyx, precious stone
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7719-01 |
וְ/שֹׁ֥הַם | veshoham | HC/Np |
and Shoham | and onyx | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7719-01 |
1 Chronicles 24:27 | וְ/שֹׁ֥הַם | veshoham | HC/Np |
and Shoham | and onyx |