שַׂמְלָה
Samlah, an Edomite
Definition
Samlah is the name of an Edomite king, recorded as the fifth ruler in the line of succession from Esau. His name likely means 'garment' or 'cloak,' though as a proper noun, it functions solely as a personal identifier. He is mentioned in the genealogical lists of Edomite kings in Genesis 36:36-37 and the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 1:47-48. The biblical text notes his reign and the name of his city, Masrekah, but provides no further narrative details about his life or deeds.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used exclusively in two parallel Old Testament passages that list the kings of Edom before any king reigned over Israel. It appears four times total: twice in Genesis 36:36-37 and twice in 1 Chronicles 1:47-48. The usage is strictly genealogical and historical, serving to document the line of Edomite leadership descended from Esau. There are no narrative stories or varied contexts associated with the name.
Etymology
The name Samlah (שַׂמְלָה) is almost certainly derived from the common Hebrew noun 'simlah' (שִׂמְלָה, H8071), which means a 'garment,' 'cloak,' or 'wrapper.' It is a proper noun formed from this everyday object, a common practice for personal names in the ancient Near East. The shift in vowel points distinguishes it as a name. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic 'thawb,' for a garment.
Semantic Range
While the name Samlah itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion is significant. It appears in the genealogies that God faithfully preserved (Genesis 36, 1 Chronicles 1), demonstrating His oversight of all nations, not just Israel. The list of Edomite kings, including Samlah, fulfills the prophecy given to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb (Genesis 25:23) and shows the historical outworking of Esau's lineage, setting the stage for later Israel-Edom conflicts. Understanding these names enriches reading by connecting sparse lists to the broader biblical story of God's sovereignty in history.
Naming a person after a common object like a 'garment' was not unusual in ancient Semitic cultures. It may have carried symbolic meaning, such as protection or covering, or simply reflected a parent's hope or circumstance at birth. As an Edomite king, his recorded city, Masrekah, places him within the tribal and territorial structures of the Edomite kingdom southeast of the Dead Sea. The concise record of his reign follows a standard ancient Near Eastern pattern for king lists.
simlah (śimlâh, H8071) — The common noun meaning 'garment' or 'cloak,' from which the proper name Samlah is derived.
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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