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שְׂמֹאול

𐤔𐤌𐤀𐤅𐤋

sᵉmôʼwl

H8040 noun

SILEX Entry

Root e1dedc to wind, wrap, envelop

Definition

The side of the body associated with the left hand; the direction leftward when facing east (the usual orientation in biblical times); by extension, also the geographic north, since orientation was performed with the face toward the sunrise. In some cases, the word can refer simply to the left hand or left side, either literally (in physical action or movement) or metaphorically (as the place of lesser honor or secondary importance, contrasting with the right hand).

Semantic Range

left hand, left side, north (by orientation), direction leftward, the less honored side (in contrast to the right)

Root / Etymology

Root is שׂמל, likely meaning 'to wind, wrap, envelop.' שְׂמֹאול appears to derive from the same root as שִׂמְלָה (simlah, 'garment'), possibly through an association with wrapping or covering, though the exact morphological development is uncertain. The word incorporates an aleph infix, whose origin is obscure, but may serve as a formative element.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׂמֹאול is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to identify the left hand or left side, often in contrast to יָמִין (yamin), 'right hand' or 'right side.' By conventional orientation—facing east—the left side became associated with the geographic north; thus, the term is sometimes used for 'north' in poetic or descriptive passages (e.g., Ezek 16:46). In narratives and legal texts, שְׂמֹאול generally retains the more concrete meaning of 'left side/hand.' Unlike later textual traditions where left and right might acquire symbolic moral connotations, biblical usage tends to mark practical differences (e.g., Exod 14:22; Josh 23:6). The association of שְׂמֹאול with the north is based on the Israelite habit of orienting oneself eastward; thus, left (שְׂמֹאול) points north, while right (יָמִין) points south. English translations sometimes render the term as 'north,' which can obscure the directional nuance. Later Hebrew (Mishnaic and post-biblical) continues to use the term for 'left,' and its semantic field remains consistent over time. Unlike 'left' and 'right' in English, which are simple spatial directions, the Hebrew system embedded orientation within the landscape and sacred geography.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שְׂמֹאל; a primitive word (rather perhaps from the same as שִׂמְלָה (by insertion of the aleph) through the idea of wrapping up); properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand; left (hand, side).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂמל (ś-m-l) — to wind, wrap, envelop

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8042 שְׂמָאלִי the left-side one
H8071 שִׂמְלָה in the outer garment

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8040-24 וּ/שְׂמֹ֔אול usemovl HC/Ncmsa or left left side 12
H8040-15 שְׂמֹאל֖/וֹ semolo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his left hand his left side 4
H8040-10 מִ/שְּׂמֹ֛אול misemovl HR/Ncmsa on the left from the left side 4
H8040-16 שְׂמֹ֥אול semovl HNcmsa left left side 4
H8040-08 מִ/שְּׂמֹ֖אל misemol HR/Ncmsa on the left left side 3
H8040-21 וּ/מִ/שְּׂמֹאלֽ/וֹ umisemolo HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-from-his-left and from his left side 3
H8040-20 וּ/מִ/שְּׂמֹאלָֽ/ם umisemolam HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and on their left and from their left side 2
H8040-06 לִ/שְׂמֹאל֔/וֹ lisemolo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms his-left to his left side 2
H8040-23 וּ/שְׂמֹאל/וֹ֙ usemolo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his left and his left side 2
H8040-22 וּ/שְׂמֹֽאל usemol HC/Ncmsa or left and left side 2

Occurrences in Scripture

54 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8040-04 Genesis 13:9 הַ/שְּׂמֹ֣אל hasemol HTd/Ncmsa the left the left side
H8040-08 Genesis 14:15 מִ/שְּׂמֹ֖אל misemol HR/Ncmsa north of left side
H8040-11 Genesis 24:49 שְׂמֹֽאל semol HNcmsa the left left side
H8040-08 Genesis 48:13 מִ/שְּׂמֹ֣אל misemol HR/Ncmsc toward Israel's left left side
H8040-25 Genesis 48:13 בִ/שְׂמֹאל֖/וֹ visemolo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his left hand in his left side
H8040-15 Genesis 48:14 שְׂמֹאל֖/וֹ semolo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his left hand his left side
H8040-20 Exodus 14:22 וּ/מִ/שְּׂמֹאלָֽ/ם umisemolam HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and on their left and from their left side
H8040-20 Exodus 14:29 וּ/מִ/שְּׂמֹאלָֽ/ם umisemolam HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and on their left and from their left side
H8040-24 Numbers 20:17 וּ/שְׂמֹ֔אול usemovl HC/Ncmsa or left left side
H8040-24 Numbers 22:26 וּ/שְׂמֹֽאול usemovl HC/Ncmsa or to the left left side
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