שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר

𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤍𐤀𐤎𐤓

Shalemaneeser

H8022 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (proper name, foreign import)

Definition

Shalmanesser; a proper name referring to an Assyrian monarch, specifically Shalmaneser V, who reigned during the late Neo-Assyrian period (late 8th century BCE). The term designates the foreign ruler involved in Israelite history, particularly in the context of the northern kingdom's conquest and exile. Attested in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the Assyrian king responsible for the siege and exile of Samaria.

Semantic Range

Shalmaneser, Assyrian king, proper name of a foreign monarch

Root / Etymology

Foreign loanword from Akkadian (Salmānu-ašarēd or Salmānu-usur), meaning 'Salmānu is chief/principal.' The Akkadian root is built from the god's name Salmānu and 'ašarēd' ('the foremost' or 'the preferred one'). The Hebrew form שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר preserves the structure of the Akkadian name but is adapted to Hebrew phonology; the element שלמן (Shalman) reflects the deity's name, as in the short form שַׁלְמָן (Shalman, another personal name or possibly a god's name).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר occurs in the Hebrew Bible primarily in relation to the conquest of Samaria (2 Kings 17:3; 18:9-10), marking a significant event in Israelite history. In biblical texts, Shalmaneser V is the Assyrian king who besieged Samaria and initiated the northern kingdom's deportation. The term is strictly used as a foreign royal name and is not used generically. English translations consistently render it as 'Shalmaneser,' but this is a phonetic approximation of the Akkadian original. The underlying theophoric element (Shalman/Salmānu) refers to a West Semitic/Akkadian deity, distinct from Israelite religious language. The spelling and pronunciation in Hebrew reflect adaptation rather than etymological derivation within Hebrew. Later periods and post-biblical literature continue to recognize Shalmaneser as an Assyrian monarch involved in Israelite exile. This word is not related to ethnic or religious identity terms for ancient Israelites or their neighbors, but functions specifically as a royal Assyrian name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of foreign derivation; Shalmaneser, an Assyrian king; Shalmaneser. Comp שַׁלְמַן.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלמנסר (sh-l-m-n-ʾ-s-r) — proper name, foreign royal name

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8022-01 שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֖סֶר shalemaneeser HNp Shalmaneser Shalmaneser 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8022-01 2 Kings 17:3 שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֖סֶר shalemaneeser HNp Shalmaneser Shalmaneser
H8022-01 2 Kings 18:9 שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֧סֶר shalemaneeser HNp Shalmaneser Shalmaneser