🔼The name Shemaah: Summary
- Meaning
- Fame, Hearing
- Etymology
- From the verb שמע (shama'), to hear.
🔼The name Shemaah in the Bible
The name Shemaah occurs only once in the Bible, although it's spelled the same as an alternate version of the name Shimea. Shemaah the Gibeathite was the father of Ahiezer and Joash, the two main leaders of David's mighty-men at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:3).
It's actually by no means certain that this man was really called Shemaah. In 1 Chronicles 12:3 his name is preceded by what is usually interpreted as the definite article ה. But that would be a strange place for the article, and this letter may very well be a part of this man's name, which would then be Hashemaah.
🔼Etymology of the name Shemaah
The name Shemaah comes from the verb שמע (shama'), meaning to hear:
שמע
The verb שמע (shama') means to hear and may also mean to understand or obey. Noun שמע (shema') means sound. Nouns שמע (shoma') and שמועה (shemu'a) mean tidings, report or mentions. Noun השמעות (hashma'ut) describes that which is caused to be heard. Noun משמע (mishma') means rumor or a thing heard. Noun משמעת (mishma'at) refers to a group or listeners.
🔼Shemaah meaning
For a meaning of the name Shemaah, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Fame and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Hearing, Fame. BDB Theological Dictionary does not translate this name but does list it under the verb שמע (shama'), meaning to hear.