רָשַׁם
𐤓𐤔𐤌
râsham
H7559 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To make a mark, inscribe, or record by writing, often with the purpose of noting, listing, or registering information. The verb can indicate the literal act of marking or inscribing, as well as the figurative act of registering or recording in writing.
Semantic Range
to mark with a sign, to inscribe (in writing), to record, to register or note in a list, to officially document
Root / Etymology
Root: רשם. The root ר-ש-ם fundamentally means to mark or inscribe. The verb form רָשַׁם is derived directly from this root, conveying the action of making a mark or inscription, most commonly through writing signs, letters, or symbols. There is no evidence connecting this root with unrelated senses (such as oral proclamation). Cognate terms in later Hebrew and related Semitic languages support the idea of 'to mark, inscribe.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
רָשַׁם appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with attestations confined to late biblical texts (primarily found in Ezra 2:62 and Nehemiah 7:64), describing the action of marking or registering names in lists or genealogies. The context is almost always administrative or bureaucratic, reflecting the postexilic Persian period's concern with documentation and official records. This verb does not carry the theological weight of 'to remember' (זָכַר) or the broader sense of 'to recount' (סָפַר). In later Hebrew, רשם develops into standard vocabulary for writing, recording, or registering, including usage for 'signature' or formal documentation, pointing to the development of record-keeping practices. English translations with 'record,' 'register,' or 'inscribe' are accurate, but may not reflect the full administrative context in which the verb was actually used. The terminology used in postexilic lists may be an early reflection of Persian administrative influence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to record; note.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רשם (r-š-m) — to mark, to inscribe, to record
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7560 | רְשַׁם | he inscribed |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7559-01 |
הָ/רָשׁ֥וּם | harashum | HTd/Vqsmsa |
that which is written | the inscribed one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7559-01 |
Daniel 10:21 | הָ/רָשׁ֥וּם | harashum | HTd/Vqsmsa |
that which is written | the inscribed one |