← H8050 H8052 →

שַׁמּוּעַ

𐤔𐤌𐤅𐤏

Shamua

H8051 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁמע to hear, listen, pay attention

Definition

Personal name: Shammua — meaning likely 'heard' or 'one who is heard.' Used as the proper name of several Israelite individuals across various biblical periods. The semantic range is rooted in the concept of hearing, possibly conveying the idea of being heard or regarded, perhaps with an implication of fame or report, though such connotations are secondary to the primary, straightforward sense of being 'one heard.'

Semantic Range

(as a proper name) Shammua; by implication 'one who is heard', personal name for several Israelite individuals; no recorded common noun/adjective usage

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root שׁמע (sh-m-ʻ), which has the core meaning 'to hear, listen, pay attention.' The vocalized form שַׁמּוּעַ (Shammua) is a personal name likely based on a passive participial or nominal form, indicating 'heard' (i.e., one who has been heard or to whom attention has been given). The etymology suggested by Strong's ('from שָׁמֵם') is incorrect; the proper root is שׁמע.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Shammua appears as the name of multiple Israelite figures: (1) a Simeonite prince (Num 13:4) among the twelve sent to scout Canaan, (2) a son of David (2 Sam 5:14; 1 Chr 14:4), (3) a Levite ancestor during the time of Nehemiah (Neh 11:17), and (4) a son of Galal in the post-exilic community (1 Chr 9:16). The name itself reflects a typical biblical naming convention where personal names incorporate easy verbal roots—especially those relating to the senses or divine acts, e.g., 'he has heard,' 'Yahweh hears.' English translations often transliterate the name directly as Shammua or Shammuah rather than providing an equivalent English word, maintaining the Hebrew personal name without implying later Judean or Jewish identity. The meaning relates to being 'heard,' not to 'renown' or 'fame' directly, unlike other names such as Shem (שֵׁם, 'name, fame'), even though connotations of being spoken of may indirectly exist. No theological or cultic content inheres in the name itself. No major semantic shift is detectable across biblical periods, and the contexts remain strictly as personal names.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁמֵם; renowned; Shammua, the name of four Israelites; Shammua, Shammuah.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ) — to hear, listen, 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
H8037 שַׁמָּא he heard

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8051-01 שַׁמּ֖וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8051-01 Numbers 13:4 שַׁמּ֖וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One
H8051-01 2 Samuel 5:14 שַׁמּ֣וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One
H8051-01 Nehemiah 11:17 שַׁמּ֔וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One
H8051-01 Nehemiah 12:18 שַׁמּ֔וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One
H8051-01 1 Chronicles 14:4 שַׁמּ֣וּעַ shamua HNp Shammua Heard-One
← H8050 Hebrew Lexicon H8052 →