שִׁמְאָם
𐤔𐤌𐤀𐤌
Shimeam
H8043 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shim'am — a personal name appearing in genealogical contexts, specifically identified as an Israelite descendant within tribal records. Primarily used for an individual in 1 Chronicles. The word functions solely as a proper noun and does not carry independent lexical meaning beyond identification of an individual.
Semantic Range
personal name, designation for an Israelite individual descended from Benjamin
Root / Etymology
Likely derived from the root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning 'to hear,' with the structure reflecting a formation akin to other personal names. Sometimes compared to the parallel form שִׁמְאָה (Shim'ah), and possibly related to the root meaning 'he has heard.' The precise formation of the name is uncertain but typologically plausible among Northwest Semitic personal names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׁמְאָם appears in 1 Chronicles 8:13, listed among the descendants of Benjamin. The form is closely related to שִׁמְאָה; minor spelling variations in genealogical lists may reflect dialectal differences or scribal preferences. The name carries no explicit meaning outside its use as a personal name. Later translations and traditions have sometimes rendered the name as 'Shimeam,' but no contextual or etymological evidence points to a meaning beyond personal identification. The name reflects a typical pattern of Hebrew naming from the monarchic or exilic period, often formed from verbal roots sometimes with a sense of petition or divine response (e.g., 'heard'). It contrasts with more widely attested names formed on the same root such as שמעון (Shim'on, 'Simeon'). The English form 'Jew' is not used in this context, as the individual is a Benjaminite Israelite rather than a later Judean.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for שִׁמְאָה (compare אֲבִיָּם); Shimam, an Israelite; Shimeam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שמע (sh-m-ʿ) — hear, listen, obey
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2045 | הַשְׁמָעוּת | for proclamation of |
| H3457 | יִשְׁמָא | He-will-hear |
| H3459 | יִשְׁמָעֵאלִי | the Yishmaʿelite |
| H3460 | יִשְׁמַעְיָה | and Yah-hears |
| H4927 | מִשְׁמָע | Mishma |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8043-01 |
שִׁמְאָ֑ם | shimeam | HNp |
Shimeam | Shim'am | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8043-01 |
1 Chronicles 9:38 | שִׁמְאָ֑ם | shimeam | HNp |
Shimeam | Shim'am |