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שֶׁמֶן

𐤔𐤌𐤍

shemen

H8081 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שמן to be fat, to grow fat, to become rich

Definition

A liquid fat, primarily referring to olive oil, used for consumption, lighting, ritual, and anointing. The term extends to oil obtained from seeds or plants, and by extension, the concept of abundance or richness. In some contexts, it also denotes perfumed ointment made with oil.

Semantic Range

olive oil for consumption; oil for lighting; perfumed oil or ointment; oil used in ritual offerings; oil for anointing; oil or ointment as a symbol of prosperity or blessing; metaphor for richness or abundance; oil as a trade commodity

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שָׁמַן (sh-m-n), 'to be fat, grow fat, become rich.' The noun שֶׁמֶן (shemen) directly derives from the root, signifying the substance that embodies fatness or richness—specifically, liquid oil.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֶׁמֶן (shemen) in the Hebrew Bible most often denotes olive oil, a vital commodity in ancient Israelite society. Used for food, lighting, offerings, anointing kings, priests, and sacred objects, and as a base for perfumed ointments. In metaphorical contexts, it signifies prosperity or abundance, reflecting oil's economic and symbolic importance. Olive oil was distinct from animal fat (חֵלֶב, chelev), which was not used for anointing or offerings except by burning. The transition from strictly olive oil to broader uses (including perfumed ointments) is attested in later biblical and Second Temple literature. English translations sometimes obscure the technical or ritual nuances of שֶׁמֶן, rendering both שֶׁמֶן and חֵלֶב simply as 'fat,' though the Hebrew makes a clear distinction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שמן (sh-m-n) — to be fat, to grow fat, to become rich

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4924 מַשְׁמָן in his fat abundances
H8066 שְׁמִינִי the eighth
H8080 שָׁמַן the rich oil
H8082 שָׁמֵן the stout one
H8083 שְׁמֹנֶה in eight

Word Forms

26 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8081-16 שֶׁ֖מֶן shemen HNcmsa oil rich oil 43
H8081-21 בַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶן vashemen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil 28
H8081-05 הַ/שֶּׁ֕מֶן hashemen HTd/Ncmsa the oil the oil 22
H8081-26 וְ/שֶׁ֥מֶן veshemen HC/Ncmsc and oil and rich oil 18
H8081-10 שָֽׁמֶן shamen HNcmsa of oil rich oil 14
H8081-02 בַּ/שֶּׁ֔מֶן bashemen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil 11
H8081-01 בַּ/שָּׁ֑מֶן bashamen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil 8
H8081-20 בַ/שָּׁ֑מֶן vashamen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil 7
H8081-04 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶן hashamen HTd/Ncmsa of the oil the oil 6
H8081-03 בְּ/שֶׁ֤מֶן beshemen HR/Ncmsa with oil in rich oil 6

Occurrences in Scripture

193 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8081-16 Genesis 28:18 שֶׁ֖מֶן shemen HNcmsa oil rich oil
H8081-10 Genesis 35:14 שָֽׁמֶן shamen HNcmsa oil rich oil
H8081-16 Exodus 25:6 שֶׁ֖מֶן shemen HNcmsa oil rich oil
H8081-07 Exodus 25:6 לְ/שֶׁ֣מֶן leshemen HR/Ncmsc for oil for oil of
H8081-16 Exodus 27:20 שֶׁ֣מֶן shemen HNcmsc oil rich oil
H8081-02 Exodus 29:2 בַּ/שֶּׁ֔מֶן bashemen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil
H8081-01 Exodus 29:2 בַּ/שָּׁ֑מֶן bashamen HRd/Ncmsa with oil in the oil
H8081-16 Exodus 29:7 שֶׁ֣מֶן shemen HNcmsc oil rich oil
H8081-19 Exodus 29:21 וּ/מִ/שֶּׁ֣מֶן umishemen HC/R/Ncmsc and of the oil and from oil of
H8081-16 Exodus 29:23 שֶׁ֛מֶן shemen HNcmsa made with oil rich oil
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