יִבְשָׂם
𐤉𐤁𐤔𐤌
Yivesam
H3005 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yivsâm — a personal name meaning 'fragrant' or 'pleasant-smelling.' In the Hebrew Bible, Yivsâm appears as the name of an individual among the descendants of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:2). The name bears a connotation of fragrance or sweetness, likely reflecting a desirable or auspicious quality.
Semantic Range
proper name (personal name), 'fragrant,' 'sweet-smelling,' figuratively favorable or attractive (in context of names)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בשׂם (b-s-m), which means 'to be fragrant' or 'to smell sweet.' The initial י (yod) is a common prefix in Hebrew names, potentially indicating agency or relation: 'he is fragrant' or 'fragranced.' The form is likely a proper noun based on the root 'fragrance.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name Yivsâm is attested solely in 1 Chronicles 7:2 as a descendant of Tola, of the tribe of Issachar. The bearers of such names often reflected desired attributes or blessings within Israelite culture. Names based on pleasant scents were not uncommon in the ancient Near East. The use of 'fragrant' in personal names sometimes alluded metaphorically to favor, honor, or virtuous character. Standard English translations typically transliterate the name as 'Jibsam' but do not convey its meaning; the association with 'fragranced' or 'pleasant-scented' is lost in translation. The term is not used outside of personal names and does not appear to have undergone semantic development beyond designating individuals. The translation tradition sometimes rendered the name without explicating the underlying meaning. There is no evidence of this name being used beyond the monarchic or genealogical lists, and it is unrelated to the later developments around the concept of 'fragrance' in ritual or temple vocabulary.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as בֶּשֶׂם; fragrant; Jibsam, an Israelite; Jibsam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בשׂם (b-s-m) — to be fragrant, to smell sweet, to emit pleasant odor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1313 | בָּשָׂם | my fragrant resin |
| H1315 | בׇּשְׂמַת | Fragrant One |
| H4017 | מִבְשָׂם | Fragrant One |
| H7643 | שְׂבָם | Sibmah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3005-01 |
וְ/יִבְשָׂ֜ם | veyivesam | HC/Np |
and Jibsam | And Fragrant-One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3005-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:2 | וְ/יִבְשָׂ֜ם | veyivesam | HC/Np |
and Jibsam | And Fragrant-One |