שִׁמְאָם
Shimam, an Israelite
Definition
Shimam is a proper name belonging to an Israelite, specifically a descendant of King Saul through his son Jonathan. The name appears only in 1 Chronicles 9:38, where he is listed among the genealogical records of the tribe of Benjamin. As a personal name, it identifies an individual within the lineage of Saul, connecting him to the broader narrative of Israel's monarchy and tribal history. The name itself carries no additional semantic meaning beyond its function as an identifier for this specific person in the biblical record.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in a genealogical context. It is found in 1 Chronicles 9:38, within a list detailing the descendants of Benjamin who returned from exile and lived in Jerusalem. The usage is purely for identification within a family lineage, specifically the line of Saul. There are no narrative passages or varied contexts associated with this name.
Etymology
The name Shimam (שִׁמְאָם) is considered a variant or a textual form of the name Shimeah (שִׁמְעָה, H8039). This connection is noted in the etymology field of Strong's Concordance (H8043), which states it is 'for H8039'. The name Shimeah itself is derived from the Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama), meaning 'to hear'. Therefore, Shimam likely carries a similar implied meaning related to hearing or being heard, which is a common theme in Hebrew personal names (e.g., Samuel, Ishmael).
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names were often significant, sometimes reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or attributes of God. While the precise meaning of 'Shimam' is uncertain due to its rare and variant form, its connection to the root for 'hearing' places it within this tradition. His inclusion in the Chronicler's genealogy (1 Chronicles 9:35-44) underscores the cultural importance of preserving tribal and familial lineages, especially for the royal line of Saul, even after the exile.
Shimeah (Shimʻâh, H8039) — The likely base name from which Shimam is derived, meaning 'fame' or 'report'.
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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