סִסְמַי
𐤎𐤎𐤌𐤉
Sisemay
H5581 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name found in genealogical listings, referring to an Israelite associated with the clan of Caleb. The meaning of the name itself is uncertain, as the etymology and constituent elements are not clear. In context, it denotes a specific individual within Judahite genealogies.
Semantic Range
personal name; name of an Israelite in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah; no wider lexical usage
Root / Etymology
Uncertain. The name סִסְמַי (Sismai) does not correspond directly to an identifiable Hebrew root or known compound elements, and its structure does not align with familiar name patterns in Biblical Hebrew. Therefore, the etymology remains uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סִסְמַי appears exclusively in 1 Chronicles 4:36 as part of a list of descendants linked to the Judahite clan of Caleb. There is no indication in the text or later tradition that the name held a meaning beyond its function as a personal identifier. As with many genealogical names in Chronicles, סִסְמַי may reflect a traditional Israelite (Judahite) name whose origin and significance have been lost. Some later translations substitute 'Sisamai' or similar forms, but do not convey additional nuance. The name does not appear in earlier biblical sources or in extra-biblical inscriptions. Standard English translations often simply transliterate the name, as its meaning and etymology are unknown.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; Sismai, an Israelite; Sisamai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; personal name with no ascertainable lexical meaning
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5581-02 |
וְ/סִסְמַ֖י | vesisemay | HC/Np |
and Sismai | and Sismai | 1 |
H5581-01 |
סִֽסְמָ֔י | sisemay | HNp |
Sismai | Sismai | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5581-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:40 | סִֽסְמָ֔י | sisemay | HNp |
Sismai | Sismai |
H5581-02 |
1 Chronicles 2:40 | וְ/סִסְמַ֖י | vesisemay | HC/Np |
and Sismai | and Sismai |