מִ/שְּׂמֹ֣אל
𐤌/𐤔𐤌𐤀𐤋
sᵉmôʼwl
toward Israel's left
The side of the body associated with the left hand; the direction leftward when facing east (the usual orientation in biblical times); by extension, also the geographic north, since orientation was performed with the face toward the sunrise. In some cases, the word can refer simply to the left hand or left side, either literally (in physical action or movement) or metaphorically (as the place of lesser honor or secondary importance, contrasting with the right hand).
Genesis 48:13 · Word #8
Lexicon H8040
| Lemma | שְׂמֹאול |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤌𐤀𐤅𐤋 |
| Transliteration | sᵉmôʼwl |
| Strong's | H8040 |
| Definition | The side of the body associated with the left hand; the direction leftward when facing east (the usual orientation in biblical times); by extension, also the geographic north, since orientation was performed with the face toward the sunrise. In some cases, the word can refer simply to the left hand or left side, either literally (in physical action or movement) or metaphorically (as the place of lesser honor or secondary importance, contrasting with the right hand). |
Morphology HR/Ncmsc
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | c — Construct — The noun is bound to the following word |
Common Translation
| Phrase | toward Israel's left |
SIBI-P1 Translation H8040-08
left side
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular common noun, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun denotes the side associated with the left hand when facing east, derived from a root meaning "to wind, wrap, envelop," possibly reflecting the idea of the enveloped or darker quarter (north). As a masculine singular absolute noun, "left side" preserves its basic directional and bodily sense without contextual expansion. |
View full lexicon entry for H8040 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
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