שַׁמְשְׁרַי
𐤔𐤌𐤔𐤓𐤉
Shamesheray
H8125 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'of (or pertaining to) the sun.' In biblical texts, Shamsherai is presented as an Israelite man, specifically as a descendant of Beriah in the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:26). The primary lexical sense is a theophoric or symbolic personal name built from a term for the sun.
Semantic Range
(personal name) sun-like, pertaining to the sun, descendant or member of a household with a solar association
Root / Etymology
Derived from the noun שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh), meaning 'sun,' with the addition of a likely West Semitic -rai/-ai ending (possibly a hypocoristic or gentilic suffix), though the exact formation is debated. Thus, 'of the sun' or 'sun-like.' Root: שָׁמֵשׁ (sh-m-sh), meaning 'to serve' or as a noun, 'sun.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shamsherai appears exclusively in post-exilic genealogical records in 1 Chronicles 8:26. The use of solar imagery or deity elements (such as שֶׁמֶשׁ 'sun') in personal names is attested elsewhere in the ancient Near East, often as expressions of hoped-for qualities or divine favor but not necessarily implying formal sun worship among Israelites. The -ai ending in Hebrew personal names may serve as a gentilic suffix or can sometimes reflect a diminutive or relation, but its precise function here is not certain. Unlike later English translations that render the term simply as a proper name, the underlying Hebrew carries an overt reference to the sun, which may not be apparent to modern readers. The name is distinct from the root שֵׁמֶשׁ in that it functions as a personal name rather than as the common noun or as part of ritual language. There is no evidence that the name referred to a specific solar cult in Benjaminite territory. In post-exilic genealogy, names with potentially non-Yahwistic roots persist, indicating traditional or familial continuity rather than contemporary religious association.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from שֶׁמֶשׁ; sunlike; Shamsherai, an Israelite; Shamsherai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שמש (sh-m-sh) — sun, serve
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1053 | בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ | sun |
| H8120 | שְׁמַשׁ | they will minister to him |
| H8121 | שֶׁמֶשׁ | in the sun |
| H8124 | שִׁמְשַׁי | Shimshai |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8125-01 |
וְ/שַׁמְשְׁרַ֥י | veshamesheray | HC/Np |
and Shamsherai | Sun-like one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8125-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:26 | וְ/שַׁמְשְׁרַ֥י | veshamesheray | HC/Np |
and Shamsherai | Sun-like one |