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שֶׁמֶשׁ

𐤔𐤌𐤔

shemesh

H8121 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The celestial body 'sun,' the fixed star at the center of the earth's daytime sky, responsible for light, warmth, and the marking of times and seasons. Also used metonymically or idiomatically to denote 'sunlight,' 'daytime,' or the direction 'east,' as well as in architectural contexts for features exposed to the sun. In some instances, it can function as a poetic parallel for brightness or splendor.

Semantic Range

sun (astronomical body), sunlight, heat of the sun, sunrise/east (by metonymy), daylight, brilliance/radiance (figurative), architectural feature exposed to sunlight (window, battlement – rare/poetic)

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Thought to derive from the root שמש (sh-m-sh), which in some forms means 'to serve, to attend' or 'to minister,' yet in this noun form refers specifically to the sun. The connection between the noun and the root is debated; the connection may imply the sun as a servant or minister of daylight to the world, but this is not linguistically certain. The actual lexical meaning is 'the sun.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, שֶׁמֶשׁ refers concretely to the sun as a fixed celestial object and is referenced in relation to marking time (Gen 1:16; Josh 10:12-13), controlling agricultural cycles, or as a witness in oaths (Ps 89:37). Occasionally, the word is used metonymically to indicate direction (the 'east,' i.e., the direction of sunrise). In construct or set phrases such as בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ ('Beth Shemesh'), it forms part of toponyms. In architectural language or poetic passages, it may refer to an opening or battlement exposed to sunlight, hence the sense 'window' or 'battlement' (Judg 1:35), but such usage is rare and sometimes debated. Some later translations and traditions use the term to indicate 'window' or 'east side,' but these reflect interpretive traditions more than lexical meaning. The modern Hebrew term for 'sun' remains שֶׁמֶשׁ. There is no evidence that the word שֶׁמֶשׁ in the biblical period implied the later religious or mythological associations sometimes ascribed to 'sun' deities in neighboring cultures, though it is used in parallel to luminaries or as an emblem of radiance, strength, or endurance (Ps 84:12).

Translation Consistency

primary "sun" 50 occurrences

שֶׁמֶשׁ primarily denotes the celestial sun and by far the most common and natural English equivalent is “sun.” This single word covers literal uses (the star, daylight, sunlight, heat) and readily handles metonymic senses (east/sunrise, sunlight-exposed features) while keeping translation consistent and idiomatic.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement; [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

שמש (Shimeshay) — to serve, attend, officiate, minister

Root שמש to serve, attend (in root form); sun (in noun form)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8120 שְׁמַשׁ they will minister to him
H8124 שִׁמְשַׁי Shimshai
H8125 שַׁמְשְׁרַי Sun-like one

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8121-03 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun 52
H8121-02 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun 39
H8121-08 שֶׁ֥מֶשׁ shemesh HNcbsa sun sun sun 20
H8121-07 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa the sun sun sun 8
H8121-06 לַ/שֶּׁ֤מֶשׁ lashemesh HRd/Ncbsa to the sun to the sun to the sun 4
H8121-12 וָ/שָׁ֑מֶשׁ vashamesh HC/Ncbsa and-sun and the sun and the sun 2
H8121-13 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ vehashemesh HC/Td/Ncbsa and the sun and the sun and the sun 2
H8121-01 בַּ/שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ bashemesh HRd/Ncbsa by the sun in the sun in the sun 1
H8121-04 כַ/שֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ khashemesh HRd/Ncbsa like the sun like the sun like the sun 1
H8121-05 לַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ lashamesh HRd/Ncbsa to the sun to the sun to the sun 1

Occurrences in Scripture

134 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8121-03 Genesis 15:12 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Genesis 15:17 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Genesis 19:23 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Genesis 28:11 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Genesis 32:32 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Genesis 37:9 הַ/שֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Exodus 16:21 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Exodus 17:12 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Exodus 22:2 הַ/שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Exodus 22:25 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Leviticus 22:7 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Numbers 21:11 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Numbers 25:4 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 4:19 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-07 Deuteronomy 4:41 שָֽׁמֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa sun sun sun
H8121-07 Deuteronomy 4:47 שָֽׁמֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa of the sun sun sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 11:30 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 16:6 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-14 Deuteronomy 17:3 וְ/לַ/שֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ velashemesh HC/Rd/Ncbsa or to the sun and to the sun and to the sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 23:12 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 24:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Deuteronomy 24:15 הַ/שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-07 Deuteronomy 33:14 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa of the sun sun sun
H8121-02 Joshua 1:4 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Joshua 1:15 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 8:29 הַ/שֶּׁמֶשׁ֩ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun of the sun
H8121-08 Joshua 10:12 שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ shemesh HNcbsa sun sun sun
H8121-03 Joshua 10:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֜מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 10:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ hashemesh-2 HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 10:27 הַ/שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Joshua 12:1 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 13:5 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of-the-sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 19:12 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Joshua 19:27 הַ/שֶּׁמֶשׁ֮ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun of the sun
H8121-02 Joshua 19:34 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 Joshua 23:4 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 Judges 5:31 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun of the sun
H8121-03 Judges 9:33 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-08 Judges 11:18 שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ shemesh HNcbsa side sun sun
H8121-03 Judges 19:14 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-07 Judges 20:43 שָֽׁמֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa of the sun sun sun
H8121-03 Judges 21:19 הַ/שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 1 Samuel 11:9 הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-13 2 Samuel 2:24 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ vehashemesh HC/Td/Ncbsa and the sun and the sun and the sun
H8121-03 2 Samuel 3:35 הַ/שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-03 2 Samuel 12:11 הַ/שֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-02 2 Samuel 12:12 הַ/שָּֽׁמֶשׁ hashamesh HTd/Ncbsa the sun the sun the sun
H8121-07 2 Samuel 23:4 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNcbsa the sun sun sun
H8121-03 1 Kings 22:36 הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ hashemesh HTd/Ncbsa of the sun the sun the sun
H8121-13 2 Kings 3:22 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ vehashemesh HC/Td/Ncbsa and the sun and the sun and the sun
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