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שֵׁם

𐤔𐤌

Shem

H8035 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שם to name, to mark, to appoint

Definition

A personal proper name designating Shem, one of the three sons of Noah, as presented in the genealogical and narrative materials of the Hebrew Bible; also used collectively for his descendants. In these texts, the name functions both as a personal name and, by extension, as an eponym for a people-group traced through his lineage. The primary sense is as an individual name, occasionally broadened to denote ethnic or ancestral grouping.

Semantic Range

Shem (personal name), eponymous ancestor, designation for descendants or a lineage, occasionally as collective identifier

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שֵׁם (šēm), from the common Hebrew root שׁ־מ meaning 'name,' 'reputation,' or 'renown.' In this proper name usage, it functions as a personal name without additional lexical meaning beyond identificational reference.

Historical & Contextual Notes

While שֵׁם (Shem) is identical in form to the common Hebrew noun for 'name,' in the narrative context it is exclusively used as a personal name. The narrative settings—from Genesis 5–11 and genealogical lists—establish Shem as the ancestor of a line associated with various ancient Near Eastern peoples. In post-biblical usage and later tradition (e.g., in rabbinic literature), 'Shem' is further connected to the concept of Shemites or Semitic peoples, but such applications lie beyond the immediate meaning in the Hebrew Bible. English translations occasionally render his name as 'Sem,' following Greek tradition, but 'Shem' is standard in modern scholarship. The word is not to be confused with later constructs or interpretations such as 'Semite,' which take on linguistic and ethnological dimensions. The personal name does not inherently carry the semantic sense of 'name,' but is rather an eponymous marker for lineage and group identity in the ancestral record. Use of the term 'Shemite' reflects a much later development, not present in the biblical text itself. Distinguish from related terms such as שֵם (name) and cognate personal names with differing historical resonance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as שֵׁם; name; Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. his posterity); Sem, Shem.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שם (š-m) — name, designation, renown, marking

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8033 שָׁם from there
H8034 שֵׁם in name of
H8047 שַׁמָּה to that place
H8048 שַׁמָּה to that place

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8035-01 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem 15
H8035-02 וּ/לְ/שֵׁ֥ם uleshem HC/R/Np And to Shem and to Shem 1
H8035-03 וְ/שֵׁם veshem HC/Np and Shem and Shem 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8035-01 Genesis 5:32 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 6:10 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-03 Genesis 7:13 וְ/שֵׁם veshem HC/Np and Shem and Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 9:18 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 9:23 שֵׁ֨ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 9:26 שֵׁ֑ם shem HNp of Shem Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 9:27 שֵׁ֑ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 10:1 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem
H8035-02 Genesis 10:21 וּ/לְ/שֵׁ֥ם uleshem HC/R/Np And to Shem and to Shem
H8035-01 Genesis 10:22 שֵׁ֖ם shem HNp Shem Shem
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