שְׁמַרְיָה (H8114) — Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמַרְיָה

𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤄

Shemareyah

H8114 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שמר to guard, to watch, to keep, to protect

Definition

Shᵉmaryâh is a proper masculine personal name meaning 'YHWH has guarded' or 'YHWH protects.' It appears as the name of several Israelite men in biblical genealogies and narratives, reflecting the theophoric (divine-name bearing) naming pattern frequently found in ancient Israel. The semantic range is largely restricted to personal name usage, with the underlying components conveying the idea of divinely mediated protection or guardianship.

Semantic Range

theophoric personal name ('YHWH has guarded' or 'YHWH protects'); the action of divine protection or watchfulness implied in naming

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verb שָׁמַר (to guard, keep, watch over) combined with the theophoric suffix -יָה or -יָהוּ, representing an abbreviated form of the divine name YHWH (Yahweh). The root meaning is 'to guard' and in the personal name, it signals 'YHWH has guarded.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׁמַרְיָה (Shᵉmaryâh) and its variant שְׁמַרְיָהוּ (Shᵉmaryâhu) follow a common Israelite practice of forming names by joining a verb root expressing an action or aspiration with a theophoric suffix referencing YHWH. Such names often commemorate divine action or express theological hope. The name is attested for several individuals during the monarchic period, such as Levitical or priestly figures (see 1 Chronicles 9:14, Nehemiah 11:15, etc.), indicating its popularity across various clans and regions, especially among those with close connections to the priesthood or temple service. The English rendering 'Shamariah' or 'Shemariah' does not fully convey the theophoric nuance present in the Hebrew. The name coexists in the biblical record alongside similar formations with other divine elements (e.g., containing El or Yah). Use of -yahu versus -yah reflects dialect, scribal preference, or contextual factors in the transmission of biblical texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שְׁמַרְיָהוּ; from שָׁמַר and יָהּ; Jah has guarded; Shemarjah, the name of four Israelites; Shamariah, Shemariah.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שמר (sh-m-r) — to guard, to watch, to keep, to protect

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3461	יִשְׁמְרַי	He-preserves
H4929	מִשְׁמָר	the guard-duty
H7763	שׁוֹמֵר	the guarding one
H8068	שָׁמִיר	like a hard-thorn
H8104	שָׁמַר	in their guarding
H8105	שֶׁמֶר	his lees
H8106	שֶׁמֶר	Shemer
H8107	שִׁמֻּר	acts of guarding
H8108	שׇׁמְרָה	Guard!
H8109	שְׁמֻרָה	guarded ones of
H8110	שִׁמְרוֹן	to Shimron
H8111	שֹׁמְרוֹן	in Watch-place
H8118	שֹׁמרֹנִי	the Shomeronites

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H8114-01`	שְׁמַרְיָֽה	shemareyah	`HNp`	Shemariah	YHWH has guarded	3
`H8114-02`	וּ/שְׁמַרְיָ֔הוּ	ushemareyahu	`HC/Np`	and Shemariah	and YHWH-has-guarded	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H8114-01`	Ezra 10:32	שְׁמַרְיָֽה	shemareyah	`HNp`	Shamariah	YHWH has guarded
`H8114-01`	Ezra 10:41	שְׁמַרְיָֽה	shemareyah	`HNp`	Shemariah	YHWH has guarded
`H8114-02`	1 Chronicles 12:6	וּ/שְׁמַרְיָ֔הוּ	ushemareyahu	`HC/Np`	and Shemariah	and YHWH-has-guarded
`H8114-01`	2 Chronicles 11:19	שְׁמַרְיָ֖ה	shemareyah	`HNp`	Shemariah	YHWH has guarded

← H8113 Hebrew Lexicon H8115 →