שִׂפְמוֹת
𐤔𐤐𐤌𐤅𐤕
Sifemot
H8224 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Siphmoth is a toponym referring to a settlement or location in southern ancient Israel, mentioned in lists describing the allocation of spoils or administrative regions. It is found as a feminine plural form, likely reflecting a place name rather than multiple entities. The specific meaning of the name is uncertain, as the root is obscure; it may be linked etymologically to the idea of 'heights' or 'ridges,' but this remains conjectural. The primary lexical meaning is a proper noun designating a geographic location rather than a common noun or adjective.
Semantic Range
Siphmoth (place name); if rooted in שפם: bare heights, exposed place (theoretical); as attested, exclusively a toponym
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שְׁפָם (shefam), though the connection is uncertain; possibly related to the idea of 'baldness,' 'bare place,' or 'height' (from שָׁפֵם or שָׁפָם), referencing a geographical feature like an exposed ridge or hill. However, the exact derivation and intended meaning of the toponym שִׂפְמוֹת is debated and may be related to a different, less attested root or be non-Hebrew in origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Siphmoth appears only in 1 Samuel 30:28 as one of the places to which David sent gifts following his exploits against the Amalekites. Its location remains unidentified, but it is referenced alongside other southern settlements in the Negev region. The plural feminine form is typologically common in Hebrew toponyms (cf. Hormoth, Avim, etc.) and does not suggest multiple sites. Later translations and traditions have sometimes speculatively identified Siphmoth with sites in southern Palestine, but there is no archaeological confirmation. English translations treat it as a simple place name and do not convey any assumed meaning inherent in the Hebrew morphology.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine plural of שְׁפָם; Siphmoth, a place in Palestine; Siphmoth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפם (š-p-m) — to be bare, to be exposed, to be bald
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8224-01 |
בְּ/שִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת | besifemot | HR/Np |
in Siphmoth | in Siphmoth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8224-01 |
1 Samuel 30:28 | בְּ/שִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת | besifemot | HR/Np |
in Siphmoth | in Siphmoth |