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שֹׁמְרוֹן

𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤍

Shomeron

H8111 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁמר to watch, guard, keep, observe

Definition

Shomron is a proper noun referring to a geographic and political region, as well as the principal city of that region, within the northern kingdom of Israel during the monarchic period. Its semantic range includes both the fortified city established as the capital by King Omri and, by extension, the larger surrounding district ruled from that city. Later, in post-exilic and Hellenistic contexts, the name extends to the region known in Greek and Roman sources as Samaria.

Semantic Range

city of Shomron (capital of northern kingdom of Israel), central region around Shomron, territory governed from Shomron, (later) Roman and Hellenistic province of Samaria

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁמר (sh-m-r), which carries the core meaning of 'to keep, watch, guard.' Shomron is formed as a substantival proper noun from the active participle form, suggesting 'watch-place' or 'observatory.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Shomron originally designated the hill and settlement purchased by King Omri from Shemer, as described in 1 Kings 16:24, and then developed as the capital of the northern Israelite kingdom (House of Omri, later kings). The site became synonymous with the political and administrative center of northern Israel, standing in contrast to Jerusalem in the south. Over time, the term could refer either to the city itself or the region it dominated. In post-exilic and later periods (including Greek and Roman sources), 'Samaria' comes to denote the broader central hill country, home to a distinct population sometimes called Samaritans (Shomronim) in later literature. English translations often use 'Samaria,' but this can obscure the word's original Israelite associations and geographical boundaries. The name derives from the sale by Shemer, but the linguistic formation puts focus on its function as a place of watch or security, not necessarily denoting the ethnicity or religion of its inhabitants in all periods. Distinct from later ethnic and religious uses associated with 'Samaritans.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the active participle of שָׁמַר; watch-station; Shomeron, a place in Palestine; Samaria.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמר (sh-m-r) — watch, guard, keep, observe

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4929 מִשְׁמָר in the guard-post
H4931 מִשְׁמֶרֶת in a guarding-duty
H8053 שָׁמוּר I will guard
H8069 שָׁמִיר in Shamir
H8113 שִׁמְרִי Shimri

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8111-04 שֹׁמְרֽוֹן shomeron HNp Samaria Watch-Place 60
H8111-01 בְּ/שֹׁמְר֑וֹן beshomeron HR/Np in Samaria in Watch-place 30
H8111-03 מִ/שֹּׁמְרֽוֹן mishomeron HR/Np from Samaria from Watch-Place 5
H8111-07 בְ/שֹׁמְר֜וֹן veshomeron HR/Np in Samaria Watch-Place Shomron 5
H8111-02 לְ/שֹׁמְר֖וֹן leshomeron HR/Np to Samaria to Watch-place Shomron 4
H8111-05 שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָ/ה shomeronah HNp/Sd to Samaria toward Watch-Place 3
H8111-06 וּ/מִ/שֹּׁמְרֽוֹן umishomeron HC/R/Np and from Samaria and from Watch-Place Shomron 2

Occurrences in Scripture

109 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8111-04 1 Kings 13:32 שֹׁמְרֽוֹן shomeron HNp Samaria Watch-Place
H8111-04 1 Kings 16:24 שֹׁמְר֛וֹן shomeron HNp of Samaria Watch-Place
H8111-04 1 Kings 16:24 שֹׁמְרֽוֹן shomeron-2 HNp Samaria Watch-Place
H8111-01 1 Kings 16:28 בְּ/שֹׁמְר֑וֹן beshomeron HR/Np in Samaria in Watch-place
H8111-01 1 Kings 16:29 בְּ/שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן beshomeron HR/Np in Samaria in Watch-place
H8111-01 1 Kings 16:32 בְּ/שֹׁמְרֽוֹן beshomeron HR/Np in Samaria in Watch-place
H8111-01 1 Kings 18:2 בְּ/שֹׁמְרֽוֹן beshomeron HR/Np in Samaria in Watch-place
H8111-04 1 Kings 20:1 שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן shomeron HNp Samaria Watch-Place
H8111-04 1 Kings 20:10 שֹׁמְר֔וֹן shomeron HNp of Samaria Watch-Place
H8111-03 1 Kings 20:17 מִ/שֹּׁמְרֽוֹן mishomeron HR/Np from Samaria from Watch-Place
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