שְׁלֹמִית
Shelomith, the name of five Israelites and three Israelitesses
Definition
Shelomith is a proper name meaning 'peaceable' or 'my peace,' derived from the Hebrew word for peace (shalom). It is used for both men and women in the Old Testament. The most notable figure is the daughter of Dibri from the tribe of Dan, whose son was involved in a blasphemy incident (Leviticus 24:11). Other individuals include a son or daughter of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:20), a Levite gatekeeper (1 Chronicles 26:28), and a descendant of Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:19). In Ezra 8:10, a Shelomith is listed among those returning from exile.
Biblical Usage
The name Shelomith appears six times across Leviticus, Chronicles, and Ezra. It is used for individuals in various roles: a mother in a legal narrative (Leviticus 24:11), members of the royal Davidic line (1 Chronicles 3:19; 2 Chronicles 11:20), Levitical officials (1 Chronicles 23:18; 26:28), and a returning exile (Ezra 8:10). There is no single dominant narrative; each occurrence identifies a different person, showing it was a common name meaning 'peaceable.'
Etymology
The name Shelomith (שְׁלֹמִית) is the feminine form of the noun derived from the root שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965), meaning 'peace,' 'wholeness,' or 'well-being.' The '-ith' ending typically indicates a feminine form. The alternate spelling שׁלוֹמִית (Shelomith) in Ezra 8:10 carries the same meaning. The name essentially means 'peaceable one' or 'my peace.'
Semantic Range
As a name meaning 'peace,' Shelomith connects individuals to the central biblical concept of shalom—God's ideal state of completeness, harmony, and right relationship. The most theologically significant mention is in Leviticus 24, where Shelomith's son commits blasphemy, highlighting the tension between a name meaning 'peace' and a context of covenant violation and judgment. This juxtaposition can remind readers that true peace (shalom) is found in obedience to God's law.
In ancient Israel, names were often descriptive or expressed a hope or characteristic. Giving a child a name like Shelomith ('peaceable') reflected a parental desire for the child's nature or for God's peace to be upon them. The name's use for both genders indicates that the quality of peace was valued for all. Its appearance across different social strata—royalty, Levites, and ordinary Israelites—shows its broad cultural acceptance.
שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — The root noun meaning 'peace,' from which Shelomith is derived. שַׁלּוּם (Shallum, H7967) — A related masculine name also meaning 'recompensed' or 'peaceable.'
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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