שַׁמּוּעַ
Shammua, the name of four Israelites
Definition
Shammua is a proper name meaning 'renowned' or 'heard of,' borne by four distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The most notable is Shammua son of Zaccur, one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan from the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 13:4). Another is Shammua (or Shammua) the son of King David, born in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:14, 1 Chronicles 14:4). The name also appears in the post-exilic period as a Levite, the father of Abda (Nehemiah 11:17), and as a priest in the time of Joiakim (Nehemiah 12:18). In each case, the name identifies a specific person, with its meaning of 'renowned' likely reflecting parental hope or character.
Biblical Usage
The name Shammua is used exclusively as a personal name for male Israelites across different historical periods. It appears in narratives of national exploration (Numbers 13:4), royal lineage (2 Samuel 5:14), and post-exilic community restoration (Nehemiah 11:17, 12:18). There is no pattern of usage beyond identifying individuals; the contexts are simply the genealogical or historical records in which these men are listed.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama', H8085), meaning 'to hear.' It is a passive participle form, conveying the sense of 'heard of' or 'renowned.' The name is thus conceptually related to the idea of having a reputation or being famous, stemming from the basic notion of something being heard about.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its bearers participate in significant biblical events. Shammua the spy represents the tribe of Reuben in the faith-testing mission of Numbers 13. His inclusion, and the subsequent majority report of fear, underscores the collective failure of that generation. The Davidic Shammua is part of the royal lineage, a testament to God's promise to David. The post-exilic bearers reflect the continuity of the priestly and Levitical lines during restoration, showing God's faithfulness in preserving His people for worship.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning and expressed parental hopes, character traits, or circumstances of birth. A name meaning 'renowned' or 'heard of' likely expressed a desire for the child to be distinguished or well-regarded within the community. It fits a common pattern of Hebrew names that are verb-based statements about God or the individual.
Shemu'el (Samuel, H8050) — Also from root שָׁמַע (shama'), but means 'name of God' or 'God has heard,' with a more direct theophoric (God-containing) element.
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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