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שָׁם

𐤔𐤌

shâm

H8033 adverb

SILEX Entry

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.'

Translation Consistency

primary "there" 50 occurrences

שָׁם is overwhelmingly a locative adverb meaning ‘there’ (754 of 835 occurrences). ‘There’ is the most natural, idiomatic, and flexible English rendering for spatial senses and can be adapted in context for related temporal or directional uses (e.g. ‘then,’ ‘thither,’ ‘from there’) while keeping a single consistent base word across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to be situated, to be in a place, to indicate location
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8033-02 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place there 536
H8033-03 שָׁ֨מָּ/ה֙ shamah HD/Sd there to that place there 134
H8033-01 מִ/שָּׁ֛ם misham HR/D from there from there from there 108
H8033-07 וְ/שָׁם֙ vesham HC/D and there and there and there 39
H8033-06 וּ/מִ/שָּׁ֖ם umisham HC/R/D and from there and from there and from there 8
H8033-08 וְ/שָׁ֨מָּ/ה֙ veshamah HC/D/Sd and there and to that place and there 8
H8033-04 שֶׁ/שָּׁ֨ם shesham HTr/D there there there 1
H8033-05 שם shm HD there there there 1

Occurrences in Scripture

835 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8033-02 Genesis 2:8 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-06 Genesis 2:10 וּ/מִ/שָּׁם֙ umisham HC/R/D and from there and from there and from there
H8033-02 Genesis 2:11 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 2:12 שָׁ֥ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 3:23 מִ/שָּֽׁם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-01 Genesis 10:14 מִ/שָּׁ֛ם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:2 שָֽׁם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:7 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 11:8 מִ/שָּׁ֖ם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:9 שָׁ֛ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-06 Genesis 11:9 וּ/מִ/שָּׁם֙ umisham HC/R/D and from there and from there and from there
H8033-02 Genesis 11:31 שָֽׁם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 12:7 שָׁם֙ sham HD there in that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 12:8 מִ/שָּׁ֜ם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 12:8 שָׁ֤ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 12:10 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 13:3 שָׁ֤ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 13:4 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 13:4 שָׁ֛ם sham-2 HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 13:14 שָׁ֑ם sham HD are in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 13:18 שָׁ֥ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 14:10 שָׁ֑מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 18:16 מִ/שָּׁם֙ misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-01 Genesis 18:22 מִ/שָּׁם֙ misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:28 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:29 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:30 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:30 שָׁ֖ם sham-2 HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:31 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 18:32 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 19:20 שָׁ֖מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 19:20 שָׁ֗מָּ/ה shamah-2 HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 19:22 שָׁ֔מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 19:22 שָׁ֑מָּ/ה shamah-2 HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 19:27 שָׁ֖ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 20:1 מִ/שָּׁ֤ם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-03 Genesis 20:13 שָׁ֔מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 21:17 שָֽׁם sham HD is in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 21:31 שָׁ֥ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 21:33 שָׁ֔ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 22:2 שָׁם֙ sham HD there in that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 22:9 שָׁ֤ם sham HD there in that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 23:13 שָֽׁמָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 24:5 מִ/שָּֽׁם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-03 Genesis 24:6 שָֽׁמָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 24:7 מִ/שָּֽׁם misham HR/D from there from there from there
H8033-03 Genesis 24:8 שָֽׁמָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-03 Genesis 25:10 שָׁ֛מָּ/ה shamah HD/Sd there to that place there
H8033-02 Genesis 26:8 שָׁם֙ sham HD there in that place there
H8033-01 Genesis 26:17 מִ/שָּׁ֖ם misham HR/D away from there from there from there
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