Bible Word Study
הָשֵׁם
Hâshêm · Hashem, an Israelite
הָשֵׁם
Hashem, an Israelite
Definition
Hashem is a proper name referring to an individual mentioned in the Old Testament. The name appears only once, identifying Hashem as one of King David's mighty men, specifically the father of some of his warriors (1 Chronicles 11:34). As a proper noun, it does not carry multiple senses or meanings beyond this single personal identification. The name itself is likely derived from a root meaning 'wealthy' or 'opulent,' possibly describing the individual's status or character.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 11:34. It functions solely as a personal name within a genealogical and military context, listing the valiant warriors who served David. There are no other usages or patterns, as it is a unique identifier for a single individual.
Etymology
The name Hashem (הָשֵׁם) is likely derived from the same root as the Hebrew word חָשֻׁם (H2828), which relates to being 'wealthy' or 'opulent.' It may be a shortened or variant form of a name meaning 'the name' or could be connected to a Semitic root denoting prosperity. Its exact derivation remains uncertain, but it is treated as a proper personal name rather than a common noun.
Semantic Range
In the cultural context of ancient Israel, names often held significant meaning, reflecting character, destiny, or parental hopes. Being listed among David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:10-47) was a high honor, indicating great courage, loyalty, and military prowess. Hashem's inclusion, even if only as the father of warriors, places his family within this elite and celebrated group, highlighting the importance of lineage and legacy in Israelite society.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]