שַׂלְמַי
𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤉
Salemay
H8014 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Salmai — a personal name, meaning likely 'clothed' or 'garmented'. The name appears as that of an Israelite individual involved in the post-exilic restoration period. The lexical meaning references being arrayed in clothing, but in the context of a name, it may connote being cared for, provided for, or distinguished by attire. The semantic range includes the literal sense of being clothed and the nominal sense as a proper noun (personal name).
Semantic Range
clothed; garmented; (as a personal name) Salmai, Shalmai
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂ-ל-מ (שַׂלְמָה, 'salmah'), meaning 'garment' or 'outer robe.' שַׂלְמַי is a theophoric or descriptive formation built upon this noun, signifying 'clothed one' or 'my garment.' The proper noun is most likely a derivative or hypocoristic form of a participle or noun phrase, used as a personal name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׂלְמַי appears in the post-exilic biblical books (Ezra 2:46; Nehemiah 7:48) as the head of a family returning from Babylonian exile, described as descendants of 'the servants of Solomon.' The name should be understood as an Israelite personal name from the Persian period, reflecting a common practice of forming names with reference to daily objects (such as garments) or divine favor/protection implied by clothing imagery. While some English traditions render the name as 'Shalmai,' the underlying Hebrew does not support later religious or ethnic associations beyond a personal name in the Israelite restoration community. The semantic nuance of being 'clothed' may have connoted being covered or protected, but the precise cultural resonance remains obscure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שַׂלְמָה; clothed; Salmai, an Israelite; Shalmai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂלמ (ś-l-m) — to clothe, to cover with a garment, to provide with clothing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8014-01 |
שַׁלְמַ֖י | shalemay | HNp |
Shalmai | Clothed One | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8014-01 |
Ezra 2:46 | שַׁלְמַ֖י | shalemay | HNp |
Shalmai | Clothed One |
H8014-01 |
Nehemiah 7:48 | שַׁלְמָֽי | shalemay | HNp |
Shalmai | Clothed One |