שַׁמָּא

Shamma, an Israelite

Definition

Shammâʼ is a proper name given to an Israelite from the tribe of Asher, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 7:37. The name is derived from the Hebrew root meaning 'desolation' or 'waste.' As a personal name, it likely carried a descriptive or perhaps even a commemorative meaning for the individual or his family, possibly reflecting circumstances of birth or a hoped-for characteristic. In its single biblical occurrence, it functions solely to identify a specific person within a genealogical list.

Biblical Usage

The word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:37, within a detailed genealogy of the tribe of Asher. It appears in a list of the sons of Zophah, identifying Shammâʼ as one of his descendants. This usage is purely onomastic (name-giving) and genealogical, with no narrative context provided beyond familial lineage.

Etymology

The name Shammâʼ (שַׁמָּא) is derived from the Hebrew root שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074), which means 'to be desolate,' 'appalled,' or 'devastated.' It is related to nouns like שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh), meaning 'desolation' or 'waste.' The name is essentially a shortened or variant form meaning 'desolation,' though as a personal name its exact nuance for the bearer is uncertain.

Semantic Range

In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and thought to reflect character, destiny, or circumstances. A name like Shammâʼ ('desolation') might seem negative to modern readers, but it could have commemorated a difficult event (like a period of barrenness or national hardship) or invoked a protective quality, perhaps hoping the child would survive desolate times. Its inclusion in a chronicle underscores the importance of preserving every family line within the covenant people.

שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — the root verb meaning 'to be desolate or appalled.' שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — the noun form meaning 'desolation, waste, horror.'

Word Details

Scripture References