שַׁמָּה
𐤔𐤌𐤄
Shamah
H8048 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating several individuals in the Hebrew Bible, primarily used as a personal name for both Israelites and an Edomite. It does not carry an independent lexical meaning as a common noun in these instances, but is related to the underlying meaning of the root שָׁם ('there'), often understood as a theophoric or commemorative name, perhaps meaning 'there [God is]' or 'desolation' (based on root associations). The semantic range is thus limited to its use as a proper noun within genealogical and narrative contexts.
Semantic Range
proper name of persons (Israelite, Edomite); related noun (desolation, horror, ruin) in other formations; rarely as geographical designation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁם (sham), meaning 'there' or from שַׁמָּה (shammah), meaning 'desolation, place of horror.' The specific formation as a personal name likely reflects an ancient practice of naming with reference to place, circumstance, or commemorative meaning. Exact nuance in personal names is often difficult to establish.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׁמָּה (Shammâh) designates at least five individuals in the Hebrew Bible: one Edomite chief (Genesis 36:13, 17; 1 Chronicles 1:36, 1:47), and four Israelites, including a son of Reuel, a son of Agee one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:11), a son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:9; 17:13), and a descendant in tribal genealogies (Joshua 19:2). There is ambiguity in genealogical passages about whether name spellings (שַׁמָּה, שִׁמְעָה, etc.) refer to distinct people or interchangeable variants. The name's association with the meaning 'there' or 'desolation' is reflected in other biblical usages (e.g., in Ezekiel 48:35, ‘YHWH-Shammah’), but as a personal name, the semantic content is less explicit. English bibles typically transliterate rather than translate the name, which preserves its ancient form without importing assumed meaning. In biblical genealogical tradition, personal names often carry commemorative aspects connected with places, events, or divine action.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שַׁמָּה; Shammah, the name of an Edomite and four Israelites; Shammah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שם (sh-m) — being situated, indicating location, spatial positioning
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8033 | שָׁם | from there |
| H8034 | שֵׁם | in name of |
| H8035 | שֵׁם | Shem |
| H8047 | שַׁמָּה | to that place |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8048-01 |
שַׁמָּ֣ה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8048-01 |
Genesis 36:13 | שַׁמָּ֣ה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
Genesis 36:17 | שַׁמָּ֖ה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
1 Samuel 16:9 | שַׁמָּ֑ה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
1 Samuel 17:13 | שַׁמָּֽה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
2 Samuel 23:25 | שַׁמָּה֙ | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
2 Samuel 23:33 | שַׁמָּה֙ | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |
H8048-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:37 | שַׁמָּ֥ה | shamah | HNp |
Shammah | to that place |