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שַׁמְהוּת

𐤔𐤌𐤄𐤅𐤕

Shamehut

H8049 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁ־מ־ם to be desolate, to be appalled, to cause devastation

Definition

Shamhuth – a personal name referring to an Israelite individual listed among military leaders in the service of King David; the name is of uncertain meaning, possibly related to the concept of 'desolation' or 'astonishment' due to its root association, but in attested usage functions solely as a proper name.

Semantic Range

personal name (Shamhuth), possible abstract sense of 'desolation,' though unattested in noun usage; exclusively a proper name in biblical context

Root / Etymology

The name שַׁמְהוּת (Shamhuth) is likely derived from the noun שַׁמָּה (shammah), meaning 'desolation, waste, horror.' The suffix -וּת (-ut) is commonly used in Hebrew to form abstract nouns, though in personal names, this pattern sometimes conveys a state or quality. Thus, שַׁמְהוּת might originally indicate 'desolation,' 'astonishment,' or a similar state, but the meaning as a personal name remains ambiguous. Some have suggested a link to the root שׁ־מ־ם, 'to be appalled, desolate.' The precise etymology in the context of the name is uncertain, and the name may be theophoric or have an origin different from the common noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Shamhuth appears in 1 Chronicles 27:8 as a commander over one of the twelve divisions in David's army, identified as a descendant of Izrahiah. The name's use is restricted to this context, and it does not occur as a common noun or appellative elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. The rendering 'desolation' in some English traditions comes from the association with the root שׁ־מ־ם, but there is no evidence that this meaning was understood or emphasized by ancient audiences or the Israelite scribes—rather, the name functions exclusively as a personal name. In most English translations 'Shamhuth' is transliterated, while translations like the KJV sometimes append interpretative glosses. There is no indication in the narrative context that his name's meaning influenced his role or any associated narrative. Related names such as שַׁמָּה (Shammah) exhibit similar root connections, but are distinct persons or terms. The evolution of the term in later Judaism does not add further nuance to its meaning in the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

for שַׁמָּה; desolation; Shamhuth, an Israelite; Shamhuth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמם (š-m-m) — to be desolate, to be appalled, to devastate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4923 מְשַׁמָּה to desolations
H8047 שַׁמָּה for utter desolation
H8054 שַׁמּוֹת Shammoth
H8060 שַׁמַּי Shammay
H8064 שָׁמַיִם in the lofty-heights

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8049-01 שַׁמְה֣וּת shamehut HNp Shamhuth Shamhuth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8049-01 1 Chronicles 27:8 שַׁמְה֣וּת shamehut HNp Shamhuth Shamhuth
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