סָמַן
𐤎𐤌𐤍
çâman
H5567 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To mark, designate, or make a sign, particularly by setting a physical or figurative indicator. Used of setting a distinguishing sign, mark, or token on an object or individual, or establishing a clear designation. Carries a semantic range including to signal, indicate, or assign by means of a mark.
Semantic Range
to mark with a sign, to place a distinguishing mark, to designate, to indicate, to assign, to signal, to appoint
Root / Etymology
From the root סמן (samekh-mem-nun), which in related Semitic languages generally means to mark, designate, or assign. The verb derives from this root and takes on the sense of actively placing or establishing a recognizable sign or designation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סָמַן occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in post-exilic texts, such as Ezra 7:21 and Ezekiel 9:4, where it refers to marking with a sign or distinguishing mark. The term appears to develop a more specialized sense in later Hebrew (e.g., Rabbinic Hebrew), where it becomes the common verb for 'to mark' or 'to designate.' In Biblical usage it is distinct from closely related roots such as אות (אָוֹת, 'sign, token'), which carries broader connotations of miraculous signs or evidence given by God. English 'appoint' sometimes narrows the semantic field; the primary sense involves actually making a visible indication or mark, not merely mentally designating. The concept can be applied to designating locations, individuals, or objects for a specific role or future action. In later periods, especially in Mishnaic and Modern Hebrew, סמן is the standard verb for 'to mark' (e.g., check, highlight).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to designate; appointed.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סמן (s-m-n) — to mark, designate, assign
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5567-01 |
נִסְמָ֔ן | niseman | HVNrmsa |
in its place | marked one | in its place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5567-01 |
Isaiah 28:25 | נִסְמָ֔ן | niseman | HVNrmsa |
in its place | marked one | in its place |