שׁוּם
garlic (from its rank odor)
Definition
The Hebrew word שׁוּם (shûwm) refers specifically to garlic, a pungent bulbous plant used as a seasoning. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 11:5, where the Israelites, complaining in the wilderness, fondly recall the foods they ate in Egypt, including garlic. The definition is straightforward, denoting the common culinary plant known for its strong aroma and flavor. No other biblical senses or metaphorical meanings are attested for this term.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Numbers 11:5, within the context of the Israelites' complaint about their diet of manna. It is listed among other desirable foods from Egypt—fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, and onions—highlighting their longing for the variety and sensory pleasures of their former life, despite their slavery. The usage is purely descriptive and culinary, with no other occurrences in the Hebrew Bible.
Etymology
The noun שׁוּם (shûwm) is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to exhale' or 'to breathe,' likely referring to the plant's strong, distinctive odor. This etymological connection emphasizes its most notable characteristic. Cognates exist in related Semitic languages, such as Arabic thūm and Aramaic tūmā, all meaning 'garlic,' indicating a shared cultural and linguistic heritage for this common food item.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, garlic was a common, affordable food flavoring and was likely consumed by all social classes in Egypt. Its mention in Numbers 11:5 reflects the Israelites' mundane yet powerful nostalgia for the stable, familiar diet of their past, contrasting with the miraculous but monotonous provision of manna. This highlights the human tendency to romanticize former circumstances, even oppressive ones, when faced with discomfort and uncertainty in God's provision.
bātsāl (H1211) — onion, another bulb vegetable recalled in the same complaint (Num. 11:5). ḥāṣîr (H2682) — leek, a related aromatic plant also listed in Numbers 11:5.
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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