כִּמְהָם
𐤊𐤌𐤄𐤌
Kimeham
H3643 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kimham (כִּמְהָם) is a proper masculine personal name referring to an individual, specifically the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, who is mentioned as receiving favor from King David after the events surrounding Absalom's revolt. The primary meaning is the personal name of a historical individual; the semantic range is limited to use as a proper noun, but possibly derives secondarily from the verb 'to long,' 'to yearn,' or 'to desire,' reflecting a positive parental aspiration.
Semantic Range
proper name of a male Israelite; possibly place name by extension; secondary: connotation of yearning, longing, or desire if derived from root
Root / Etymology
The name כִּמְהָם (Kimhâm) is likely derived from the root כמה (k-m-h), meaning 'to long for,' 'to yearn,' or 'to desire.' The exact formation of the name within the root system is uncertain, as is the original nuance intended by the name-giver. The form is an uncommon personal name and may reflect a nominal pattern typical of Late Monarchic Hebrew anthroponyms. The root כמה refers to an emotional longing or deep yearning, though the application to the personal name is interpretive.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Kimham appears in the Hebrew Bible only in 2 Samuel 19:38-40 and Jeremiah 41:17, where a place is described as 'Geruth Kimham,' probably named after this individual and connected with land granted to him by David. The name is unique and does not recur elsewhere in the biblical corpus. In later tradition and translations (e.g., KJV 'Chimham'), the spelling can vary due to differences in transliteration conventions over time. The historical context of Kimham is the early monarchic period, and references situate him as a recipient of royal beneficence but not as a major figure. The use of the name does not carry semantic content beyond its function as a personal name, but it preserves the memory of a relationship between David and Barzillai the Gileadite's family. English translations standardly preserve the name as 'Kimham' or 'Chimham' without translation, since it serves only as a personal and, later, a place name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּמַהּ; pining; Kimham, an Israelite; Chimham.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כמה (k-m-h) — to long for, to yearn, to desire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3642 | כָּמַהּ | he has yearned |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3643-03 |
כִּמְהָ֔ם | kimeham | HNp |
Chimham | Kimhām | 2 |
H3643-02 |
כמו/הם | khmvhm | HR/Sp3mp |
of Chimham | their Kimham | 1 |
H3643-01 |
כִמְהָ֗ם | khimeham | HNp |
Chimham | Yearning-one (Kimham) | 1 |
H3643-04 |
וְ/כִמְהָ֖ן | vekhimehan | HC/Np |
and Chimham | and Kimham | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3643-01 |
2 Samuel 19:38 | כִמְהָ֗ם | khimeham | HNp |
Chimham | Yearning-one (Kimham) |
H3643-03 |
2 Samuel 19:39 | כִּמְהָ֔ם | kimeham | HNp |
Chimham | Kimhām |
H3643-04 |
2 Samuel 19:41 | וְ/כִמְהָ֖ן | vekhimehan | HC/Np |
and Chimham | and Kimham |
H3643-02 |
Jeremiah 41:17 | כמו/הם | khmvhm | HR/Sp3mp |
of Chimham | their Kimham |
H3643-03 |
Jeremiah 41:17 | כִּמְהָ֔ם | kimeham | HNp |
Chimham | Kimhām |