שְׁמִידָע
Shemida, an Israelite
Definition
Shemida is the name of a Gileadite man from the tribe of Manasseh, recorded as a son of Gilead and the founder of a clan known as the Shemidaites (Numbers 26:32). As a proper noun, it functions solely as a personal and clan name within the genealogical records of Israel. The name appears in three key passages: the census in Numbers 26:32, the allotment of land in Joshua 17:2, and the genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 7:19, consistently identifying this specific family lineage within the tribe of Manasseh.
Biblical Usage
The name Shemida is used exclusively in genealogical and territorial contexts within the Old Testament. It appears in the book of Numbers during the second wilderness census, where the clan of the Shemidaites is listed among the descendants of Manasseh (Numbers 26:32). This clan is later named among those who received an inheritance in the land of Canaan, west of the Jordan River (Joshua 17:2). The final occurrence is in the Chronicler's expanded genealogy of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:19). The usage is strictly as a proper name for an individual and his subsequent clan.
Etymology
The name Shemida (שְׁמִידָע) is a compound name, likely derived from the Hebrew roots שֵׁם (H8034, *shēm*, meaning 'name' or 'renown') and יָדַע (H3045, *yādaʿ*, meaning 'to know'). Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'name of knowing' or possibly 'renowned for knowledge.' It follows a common pattern for Hebrew personal names that combine divine attributes or actions, though the exact nuance here is uncertain.
Semantic Range
While the name Shemida itself is not theologically loaded, its presence in Scripture underscores the importance of genealogy and tribal identity in God's covenant relationship with Israel. The inclusion of Shemida and his clan in the census (Numbers 26) and land allotment (Joshua 17) demonstrates God's faithfulness in preserving and providing for each family unit within the larger covenant community, fulfilling the promises made to the patriarchs.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning and were thought to reflect character or destiny. A name like Shemida, potentially meaning 'name of knowing,' may have conveyed a positive attribute hoped for in the individual or clan. Furthermore, being recorded in tribal genealogies and land allotments was of paramount importance, as it established one's identity, inheritance rights, and standing within the covenant nation.
Gilead (Gilʿād, H1568) — The father of Shemida, representing the preceding generation in the Manassite lineage. Machir (Mākhîr, H4353) — The brother of Shemida and a more prominent clan head within Manasseh. Abiezer (ʾĂḇîʿezer, H44) — Another son of Gilead and brother to Shemida, founder of a separate Manassite clan (Joshua 17:2).
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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