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שָׁם

𐤔𐤌

shâm

H8033 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to be situated, to be in a place, to indicate location

Definition

An adverb indicating place—'there, in that place, at that location'; can also function temporally as 'then' in certain contexts, where location or existence in a particular place is at issue. Used to assert or identify the presence or positioning of an entity or event, often contrasting with 'here' (פֹּה). Can introduce spatial focus, designate spatial distance or presence, or serve as a demonstrative adverb of place or (rarely) of time.

Semantic Range

there, in that place, at that location, in it; sometimes temporally then, thither (to that place), whence (from that place), out of there, there-in, there-of, out of there

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. Traditional etymological suggestion associates שָׁם (shâm) with the relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר (asher, 'which, who'), but this connection is debated and likely a product of ancient folk-etymology. Modern scholarship generally treats שָׁם as a primary spatial adverb not directly traceable to other Hebrew roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁם (shâm) functions primarily as a spatial adverb, marking a specific but often previously referenced or contextually known location: e.g., 'and he built there (שָׁם) an altar.' Sometimes שָׁם marks the site of divine encounter (Genesis 28:19) or a turning point in narrative (Genesis 22:13). In rare cases, particularly in poetic or archaic usage, it indicates temporal sequence—'then'—but this is never its core function. Contrast with פֹּה (poh, 'here'), הֵנָּה (hennah, 'hither, to here'), and שָׁמָּה (shamah, 'thither, to there'). The particle is common from the earliest texts and remains semantically stable across the Hebrew Bible. Later English translations sometimes expand or shift its meaning to fit narrative flow, but its core sense remains spatial ('there'). In post-biblical Hebrew, שָׁם continues to serve as the primary word for 'there.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, אֲשֶׁר); there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence; in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שם (sh-m) — location, placement, being situated in a place

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8034 שֵׁם in name of
H8035 שֵׁם Shem
H8047 שַׁמָּה to that place
H8048 שַׁמָּה to that place

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8033-02 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place 536
H8033-03 שָׁ֑מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place 134
H8033-01 מִ/שָּֽׁם misham HR/D from there from there 108
H8033-07 וְ/שָׁ֨ם vesham HC/D and there and there 39
H8033-06 וּ/מִ/שָּׁם֙ umisham HC/R/D and from there and from there 8
H8033-08 וְ/שָׁ֥מָּ/ה veshamah HC/D/Sd and there and to that place 8
H8033-04 שֶׁ/שָּׁ֨ם shesham HTr/D there there 1
H8033-05 שם shm HD there there 1

Occurrences in Scripture

835 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8033-02 Genesis 2:8 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place
H8033-06 Genesis 2:10 וּ/מִ/שָּׁם֙ umisham HC/R/D and from there and from there
H8033-02 Genesis 2:11 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place
H8033-02 Genesis 2:12 שָׁ֥ם sham HD there in that place
H8033-01 Genesis 3:23 מִ/שָּֽׁם misham HR/D from there from there
H8033-01 Genesis 10:14 מִ/שָּׁ֛ם misham HR/D from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:2 שָֽׁם sham HD there in that place
H8033-02 Genesis 11:7 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place
H8033-01 Genesis 11:8 מִ/שָּׁ֖ם misham HR/D from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:9 שָׁ֛ם sham HD there in that place
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