Bible Word Study
זַהַם
Zaham · Zaham, an Israelite
זַהַם
Zaham, an Israelite
Definition
Zaham is a proper noun referring to an Israelite individual mentioned only once in the Old Testament. He is identified as a son of King Rehoboam of Judah and his wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth (son of David) and Abihail (daughter of Eliab). As a royal prince, Zaham was part of the Davidic lineage during the divided monarchy period. The name itself, derived from a root meaning 'to be foul' or 'to loathe,' stands in contrast to his royal heritage, though no narrative about his character or actions is provided.
Biblical Usage
The word זַהַם (Zaham) is used exclusively as a proper name in 2 Chronicles 11:19. It appears in a genealogical list detailing the family of King Rehoboam, specifically naming his sons born to his various wives. The context is purely historical and genealogical, recording the royal lineage of Judah without any accompanying narrative about Zaham's life or deeds.
Etymology
Zaham is derived from the Hebrew root זָהַם (zaham, H2092), which means 'to be foul,' 'to stink,' 'to loathe,' or 'to be loathsome.' As a proper name, it is likely a nominal form based on this root. The meaning of the name ('loathing' or 'something foul') is striking for a royal prince, possibly reflecting circumstances at birth, a parental sentiment, or serving as a protective 'unattractive' name, though the specific reason is not explained in scripture.
Semantic Range
While Zaham himself is a minor figure, his mention contributes to the biblical theme of God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant despite human frailty. The recording of his name, even with an unflattering etymology, within the official royal genealogy (2 Chronicles 11:19) underscores the meticulous preservation of the Messianic line. It reminds the reader that God's sovereign plans work through real, documented families, including all their members. In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances, hopes, or characteristics. A name like Zaham ('loathing') for a royal son is unusual and may indicate a difficult birth, a parental vow, or a practice of giving a humble or deterrent name to protect a child. His listing among Rehoboam's many sons and wives also illustrates the polygamous practices of Israelite kings, which often led to political alliances but also to family strife, as seen in the conflicts following Solomon's reign. No direct synonyms exist as it is a unique proper name. It is related etymologically to the verb זָהַם (zaham, H2092) — meaning 'to loathe' or 'to be foul.'
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]