שַׁמָּא
𐤔𐤌𐤀
Shama
H8037 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun. Shamma — name borne by an individual Israelite in biblical genealogies. The word itself does not have a lexical meaning outside of its use as a proper name. Sometimes interpreted as potentially related to terms denoting 'desolation', but in context, functions strictly as a personal name, not as a common noun or descriptive term.
Semantic Range
proper name (personal name); related root may indicate desolation, wasteland (not in name usage); name of an Israelite individual; does not function as a common noun
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שָׁמֵם (sh-m-m), meaning 'to be desolate, to be appalled, to be astonished.' The formation here is as a theophoric or descriptive proper name, likely deriving from the idea of desolation, but the precise motivation or nuance of the name in the biblical context is uncertain. As with many biblical personal names, its origin may reflect a wish or circumstance known to the naming family.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׁמָּא (Shamma) appears in genealogical lists (e.g., 1 Chronicles 2:44), identified as an Israelite. While the form is constructed from the root meaning 'desolation' or 'wasteland,' in the biblical context it serves only as a personal name and is not used as a common noun. Some English translations attempt to render meaning from the presumed root, but historical usage does not assign the lexical sense 'desolation' to Shamma as a name. The same or similar roots also appear in other personal names with no necessary connection to their literal semantic meaning. 'Shamma' should not be confused with more common Hebrew nouns like שָׁמֶם (shamen, 'desolation') or with other names such as שַׁמַּע (Shammaʿ, 'he has heard'), which have a different etymology and significance. The later English term 'Jew' is not relevant; Shamma refers to an Israelite during the monarchic or pre-exilic period, and does not indicate specific tribal or geographic identity beyond what is given in the genealogical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁמֵם; desolation; Shamma, an Israelite; Shamma.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ) — to hear, to listen, to pay attention
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1953 | הוֹשָׁמָע | Yahweh-has-heard |
| H3460 | יִשְׁמַעְיָה | Yahweh hears |
| H4926 | מִשְׁמָע | to report-of |
| H4928 | מִשְׁמַעַת | their obedience |
| H8039 | שִׁמְאָה | Hearing-one |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8037-02 |
וְ/שַׁמָּ֧א | veshama | HC/Np |
and Shamma | and he heard | 1 |
H8037-01 |
שַׁמָּ֥א | shama | HNp |
Shammah | he heard | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8037-01 |
2 Samuel 23:11 | שַׁמָּ֥א | shama | HNp |
Shammah | he heard |
H8037-02 |
1 Chronicles 7:37 | וְ/שַׁמָּ֧א | veshama | HC/Np |
and Shamma | and he heard |