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בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ

𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤔𐤌𐤔

Beyt Shemesh

H1053 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Toponym denoting various locations in the biblical landscape, literally meaning 'house of the sun.' It refers to towns or cities, most notably situated at the border between the territories of Judah and Dan, but also in Naphtali and Issachar, that were named for their association with the sun, potentially as former sites of solar worship or prominent high places. The term combines the noun for 'house' with the noun for 'sun,' creating a compound place-name indicating a sanctuary, temple, or settlement identified with the sun.

Semantic Range

Beth-Shemesh (as a place-name); settlement or town named 'house of the sun'; former sanctuary or cult site associated with the sun; Canaanite or Israelite city with a temple or special association to solar deities

Root / Etymology

A compound word from the root בֵּית (meaning 'house,' from the root בנה 'to build, construct') and שֶׁמֶשׁ ('sun'; root uncertain but widely attested in Semitic languages). The compound literally signifies 'house (or temple) of the sun.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ appears as a prominent border town in the southern hill country (notably Joshua 15:10, 21:16), allocated to the tribe of Judah, and also as towns in the territories of Naphtali (Joshua 19:38) and Issachar (Joshua 19:22). The name likely preserves evidence of pre-Israelite Canaanite cultic practice associated with solar worship. Archaeological and textual evidence suggests that the sun was a significant aspect of local deity worship in the region during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, and site-names like בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ were not unique to Israelite settlement patterns. References to בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ in narrative often appear in contexts of border disputes, cultic incidents (e.g., the ark narrative in 1 Samuel 6), or as Levitical cities. The Septuagint and later translations render the name directly as a place-name without attempt to translate its meaning, while English versions often preserve the transliteration 'Beth-shemesh.' 'Palestine' in older translations refers broadly to the territory of the biblical world; the actual towns bearing this name reflect different historical realities depending on the period and context. The meaning does not imply persistent Israelite solar worship but preserves the memory of Canaanite-named or purposed sites.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בַּיִת and שֶׁמֶשׁ; house of (the) sun; Beth-Shemesh, a place in Palestine; Beth-shemesh.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

בנה, שמש (Beyt Shemesh) — to build, construct; sun

Root בנה, שמש to build, construct; sun

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1053-04 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh 16
H1053-02 בֵּ֥ית beyt HNp Beth house of Beyt Shemesh 8
H1053-03 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNp Shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh 5
H1053-06 בֵֽית veyt HNp Beth house-of Beyt Shemesh 5
H1053-01 בְּ/בֵ֥ית beveyt HR/Np at Beth in the built-house of in Beyt Shemesh 4
H1053-05 וּ/בֵ֣ית uveyt HC/Np and Beth and house-of and Beyt Shemesh 4

Occurrences in Scripture

42 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1053-02 Joshua 15:10 בֵּֽית beyt HNp house-of house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Joshua 15:10 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp Shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-05 Joshua 19:22 וּ/בֵ֣ית uveyt HC/Np and Beth and house-of and Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Joshua 19:22 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-05 Joshua 19:38 וּ/בֵ֣ית uveyt-2 HC/Np and Beth and house-of and Beyt Shemesh
H1053-03 Joshua 19:38 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNp shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 Joshua 21:16 בֵּ֥ית beyt HNp Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Joshua 21:16 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-06 Judges 1:33 בֵֽית veyt HNp Beth house-of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Judges 1:33 שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ shemesh HNp Shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-06 Judges 1:33 בֵֽית veyt-3 HNp Beth house-of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Judges 1:33 שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ shemesh-2 HNp Shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 1 Samuel 6:9 בֵּ֣ית beyt HNp to Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:9 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp -shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 1 Samuel 6:12 בֵּ֣ית beyt HNp Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:12 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp -shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 1 Samuel 6:12 בֵּ֥ית beyt-2 HNp of Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-03 1 Samuel 6:12 שָֽׁמֶשׁ shamesh HNp -shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-05 1 Samuel 6:13 וּ/בֵ֣ית uveyt HC/Np and Beth and house-of and Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:13 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-06 1 Samuel 6:15 בֵֽית veyt HNp of Beth house-of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:15 שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-06 1 Samuel 6:19 בֵֽית veyt HNp Beth- house-of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:19 שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-06 1 Samuel 6:20 בֵֽית veyt HNp house of house-of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Samuel 6:20 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp Beth-shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-05 1 Kings 4:9 וּ/בֵ֣ית uveyt HC/Np and in Beth and house-of and Beyt Shemesh
H1053-03 1 Kings 4:9 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNp shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-01 2 Kings 14:11 בְּ/בֵ֥ית beveyt HR/Np at Beth in the built-house of in Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 2 Kings 14:11 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-01 2 Kings 14:13 בְּ/בֵ֣ית beveyt HR/Np at-Beth in the built-house of in Beyt Shemesh
H1053-03 2 Kings 14:13 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNp Shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 Jeremiah 43:13 בֵּ֣ית beyt HNp house house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 Jeremiah 43:13 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp of-the-sun House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 1 Chronicles 6:44 בֵּ֥ית beyt HNp Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 1 Chronicles 6:44 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-01 2 Chronicles 25:21 בְּ/בֵ֥ית beveyt HR/Np in Beth in the built-house of in Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 2 Chronicles 25:21 שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ shemesh HNp Shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-01 2 Chronicles 25:23 בְּ/בֵ֣ית beveyt HR/Np in-[house]-of in the built-house of in Beyt Shemesh
H1053-03 2 Chronicles 25:23 שָׁ֑מֶשׁ shamesh HNp Shemesh sun Beyt Shemesh
H1053-02 2 Chronicles 28:18 בֵּֽית beyt HNp Beth house of Beyt Shemesh
H1053-04 2 Chronicles 28:18 שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh House of the Sun Beyt Shemesh
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