שְׁמִירָמוֹת
𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤓𐤌𐤅𐤕
Shemiramot
H8070 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shemiramoth (שְׁמִירָמוֹת) is a personal name referring to one or more individuals in the Hebrew Bible, specifically among the Levitical musicians appointed during the time of David. The lexical meaning is uncertain, though the structure of the name suggests a compound possibly involving a descriptive or attributive element. The semantic range is limited to its use as a proper noun, referring to specific individuals.
Semantic Range
proper noun (personal name of Levites); no attested common noun usage
Root / Etymology
uncertain. The name is possibly a compound, with the initial element שֵׁם (shem, 'name') or שָׁמִיר (shamir, 'thorn, flint') and the second being a plural form apparently related to רָמָה (ramah, 'height'), though the morphological and semantic connection is unclear. The exact meaning of the compound is not securely established; the suggestion 'name of heights' is speculative and not philologically certain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shemiramoth appears in genealogical and cultic lists associated with Levitical singers and musicians in the time of David (1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:20, 1 Chronicles 16:5; 2 Chronicles 17:8). The name is not used as a common noun outside of personal name contexts, and its etymological interpretation remains debated; modern scholarship does not confirm the glosses presented in older concordances. The form with a variant spelling (שְׁמָרִימוֹת) occurs interchangeably, reflecting scribal shifts or dialectal variants. The structure suggests intentional theophoric or descriptive naming conventions common in the monarchic period, but the specific referent—whether a place, quality, or honorific—is uncertain. Standard English translations simply transliterate the name, and do not ascribe additional meaning. The name carries no sectarian or later religious connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׁמָרִימוֹת; probably from שֵׁם and plural of רָמָה; name of heights; Shemiramoth, the name of two Israelites; Shemiramoth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שׁמר / רמה (uncertain) (š-m-r / r-m-h (uncertain)) — guarding, keeping; height, elevation (uncertain derivation)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8070-01 |
וּ/שְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת | ushemiramot | HC/Np |
and Shemiramoth | Shemiramoth | 4 |
H8070-02 |
ו/שמרימות | vshmrymvt | HC/Np |
and-Shemiramoth | and Shemiramoth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8070-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:18 | וּ/שְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת | ushemiramot | HC/Np |
and Shemiramoth | Shemiramoth |
H8070-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:20 | וּ/שְׁמִֽירָמ֤וֹת | ushemiramot | HC/Np |
and Shemiramoth | Shemiramoth |
H8070-01 |
1 Chronicles 16:5 | וּ/שְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת | ushemiramot | HC/Np |
Shemiramoth | Shemiramoth |
H8070-02 |
2 Chronicles 17:8 | ו/שמרימות | vshmrymvt | HC/Np |
and-Shemiramoth | and Shemiramoth |
H8070-01 |
2 Chronicles 17:8 | וּ/שְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת | ushemiramot | HC/Np |
and-Shemiramoth | Shemiramoth |