סַם
𐤎𐤌
çam
H5561 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A substance used chiefly for its aromatic properties; spice, perfume, or fragrant resin, typically derived from plants and used for incense, medicinal purposes, or ritual anointing. The term can refer both to the actual aromatic material and to mixtures made from such substances.
Semantic Range
aromatic resin, spice, sweet spice, perfumed substance, ingredient of incense, aromatic material, perfume
Root / Etymology
From the root ס-מ-ם (סם), the precise root meaning is uncertain and not attested as a verb in Biblical Hebrew. The underlying sense in related Semitic languages points to 'to smell' or 'to make fragrant,' but the Hebrew noun is the primary attested form. Cognates may exist in Aramaic and Akkadian for aromatic substances.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, סַם frequently denotes spices or aromatic substances, especially those employed in the preparation of sacred incense (Exodus 30:34) or anointing oils. It does not designate specific plants but rather serves as a general term for any substance with a pleasant aroma used in cultic, medicinal, or cosmetic contexts. The meaning stays consistent from the monarchic through the exilic period, though in post-biblical Hebrew the term broadens to include medicinal drugs or poisons (e.g., in later rabbinic literature), a semantic development not present in the Hebrew Bible. English translations such as 'spice' or 'sweet spice' capture only part of the range, missing the nuance of resinous substances and perfumes in cultic ritual. Related biblical terms like בְּשָׂם (besam) and קְטֹרֶת (qetoret) may refer more specifically to balsam or to the incense as a prepared product. The term סַם refers to individual ingredients rather than finished incense blends. Some post-biblical texts (LXX, later translations) render the word according to the custom of the period, sometimes as 'aromatic,' 'spice,' or, in rare cases, 'drug,' but these do not reflect its narrower biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma; sweet (spice).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סם (s-m-m) — fragrance, aromatic substance, perfume-making
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7760 | שׂוּם | fragrant spices |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5561-01 |
הַ/סַּמִּֽים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices | 9 |
H5561-02 |
סַמִּ֑ים | samim | HNcmpa |
spices | aromatic spices | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
16 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5561-01 |
Exodus 25:6 | הַ/סַּמִּֽים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-02 |
Exodus 30:7 | סַמִּ֑ים | samim | HNcmpa |
of spices | aromatic spices |
H5561-02 |
Exodus 30:34 | סַמִּ֗ים | samim | HNcmpa |
spices | aromatic spices |
H5561-02 |
Exodus 30:34 | סַמִּ֖ים | samim-2 | HNcmpa |
spices | aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 31:11 | הַ/סַּמִּ֖ים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 35:8 | הַ/סַּמִּֽים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 35:15 | הַ/סַּמִּ֑ים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 35:28 | הַ/סַּמִּֽים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 37:29 | הַ/סַּמִּ֖ים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |
H5561-01 |
Exodus 39:38 | הַ/סַּמִּ֑ים | hasamim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the spices | the aromatic spices |