SHIBLON

Jaredite PN	1.	King (Ether 1:11, 12; called SHIBLOM in Ether 11:4 (x3), 5, 7, 9?)
Lehite PN	2.	Son of ALMA No. 2, ca. 82 BC (Alma 31:7; 37:Preface; 38:5; 49:30; 63:1, 10, 11, 13, 17)
Lehite noun	3.	Silver currency, ca. 82 BC (Alma 11:15 (x2), 16, 19)

Etymology

Until possible language affinities for JAREDITE names can be determined, all suggestions for etymologies of JAREDITE names must remain more speculative than substantive. With that caveat, the onomasticon does offer etymologies for some JAREDITE names, especially if it is possible that some JAREDITE names were translated into NEPHITE, or were otherwise related to one or more Semitic languages.

This is probably a variant of SHIBLOM, and possibly the primary name. The possibilities include the biblical PN šōbāl, Shobal in KJV, *šōbel, “flowing skirt,” šibbolet, “ear of grain,” and šebīl, šebūl, “path,” should be considered (JH; see also Reynolds, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, IV, p. 282). The -ōn ending is a common hypocoristicon, so presumably this is a short form of a longer name, such as “path of DN” or “skirt” (protection) of DN” (JH). SHIBLON and SHIBLOM are mere variants in the JAREDITE record (RFS).

For the Lehite weight, a derivation from “ear of grain” would make sense. (Shublons in earlier editions of Alma 11:19, if Reynolds’ listing is correct)

Less likely is a derivation from feline names, such as Arabic شبل šibl, “jaguar cub.” The same source would also have ALMA’s other son’s name, CORIANTON, related to HEBREW גור gûr, guryōn, “lion cub” (2 Kings 9:27; > Mishnaic Hebrew name Gurion). As for the NEPHITE currency named SHIBLON, the same source gives evidence that early weights used for exchange were in the shape of animals. He suggests that the jade jaguar figures found in Mesoamerica are related to or identical to the Book of Mormon SHIBLON (BU, NPSEHA 150.0 [Aug 1982]).

Cf. Book of Mormon SHIBLOM, SHIBLUM and, per RFS, SHUM and SHEUM

See also Shiblon(s) Variants; Shiblom Variants.

Variants

shiblons, shublons, Shiblom, Shiblon

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐟𐐆𐐒𐐢𐐊𐐤 (ʃɪblʌn)

Notes

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