SHURR

Jaredite GN

1.

Valley of, near hill COMRON / COMNOR(Ether 14:28 (x2))

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.

There are several ancient Near Eastern possibilities for SHURR, some of which could prove promising. HEBREW šôrer, possibly from a root *šrr, means “foe” or “enemy.” (See the HEBREW text of Psalm 5:9; 92:12; etc.) This etymology would explain the doubled r in the Book of Mormon GN (see the HEBREW text of Psalm 92:12 where the r is virtually doubled) and would fit well with the place where CORIANTUMR gathered his armies and invited his enemies to battle.

The King James Bible GN Shur (HEBREW šûr, Genesis 16:7; 20:1; 25:18; Exodus 15:22; 1 Samuel 15:7), a wilderness region in NW Sinai, would seem to be an appropriate analog to SHURR, though the doubling of the r remains unexplained.

A HEBREW word for “wall” or “barrier,” šûr (Genesis 49:22; 2 Samuel 22:30; and Psalm 18:30 [verse 29 in the KJV ]) would also provide an appropriate etymology for a GN name, but would not account for the doubled r.

HEBREW šôr, “bull,” with cognates in nearly all Semitic languages, would not account for the doubled r.

Akkadian (East Semitic) šurrȗ, meaning, “inception, beginning,” (and it verb šurrȗ) is possible, even though the vowel on the end is phonemic. Akkadian šurru, meaning, “to go down, bow down,” is perhaps plausible. Šūru is a Sumerian loanword in Mari and Nuzi texts that is some kind of geographic feature. But again, the doubled r is unaccounted for. Akkadian words such as šarȗ, “to be(come) rich,” šâru, “to malign,” etc., are long shots. Akkadian šūru, “reed bundle,” is interesting.

Akkadian surrȗ appears to be a loanword from Sumerian and could mean “lamentation priest.” But this does not explain the /š/ of the Book of Mormon GN. Sumerian š[u]-ur₄ is rendered as Akkadian kisittu, meaning a “stump, trunk (of a tree).” In addition, there are multiple Sumerian words written using the šur_1-6 and sur_1-14 signs each with a different meaning, (see the respective sign lists) but none of the meanings are particularly appropriate for a GN.

Variants

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐟𐐊𐐡 (ʃʌr)

Notes

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