בׇּשְׂמַת
Bosmath, the name of a wife of Esau, and of a daughter of Solomon
Definition
בׇּשְׂמַת (Bosmath) is a proper noun, the name of two distinct women in the Old Testament. First, it refers to a wife of Esau, the daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 36:3), and also, confusingly, to a daughter of Elon the Hittite, another wife of Esau (Genesis 26:34; 36:2, where she is called Adah). This likely represents a tradition of multiple names or scribal variation. Second, it is the name of a daughter of King Solomon (1 Kings 4:15). In both uses, the name carries the meaning 'fragrance' or 'spice,' derived from its root.
Biblical Usage
The name is used exclusively in narrative contexts within Genesis and 1 Kings. In Genesis, it appears in the genealogical records of Esau and the Edomites (Genesis 26:34, 36:3-4, 10, 13, 17), detailing his wives and descendants. In 1 Kings 4:15, it identifies a daughter of Solomon, Ahimaaz's wife, within a list of Solomon's administrative officials. The usage is strictly as a personal name without metaphorical application.
Etymology
The name is the feminine form of the noun בֶּשֶׂם (besem, H1314), meaning 'spice, balsam, sweet odor, fragrance.' It is derived from the root ב־שׂ־ם, associated with pleasant smells. As a feminine proper noun, it essentially means 'fragrant one' or 'spice girl,' a common type of name denoting a positive, desirable quality.
Semantic Range
While primarily a personal name, its etymological meaning ('fragrance') connects it to biblical imagery of pleasing offerings and divine favor. The naming of Esau's wives from different ethnic lines (Ishmaelite and Hittite/Canaanite) highlights the intermarriages that concerned Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35), a theme with consequences for the covenant lineage. Solomon's daughter bearing this name reflects the peace and prosperity of his reign, a time of 'fragrant' blessing.
In ancient Semitic culture, names were often descriptive and carried meaning about the person or the parents' hopes. A name meaning 'fragrance' signified something pleasant, desirable, or precious, much like the valuable spices and perfumes of the ancient world. The dual identification of Esau's wives (e.g., Basemath/Adah) may reflect different source traditions or the common practice of individuals having multiple names.
בֶּשֶׂם (besem, H1314) — The masculine root noun meaning 'spice' or 'fragrance,' from which the name is derived. נִיחוֹחַ (niychoach, H5207) — A term specifically for a 'soothing aroma,' often of sacrifices offered to God.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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