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The structure of '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' seems to follow the well-established pattern of [[LEHI|L<small>EHI</small>]], [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]], [[OMNI|O<small>MNI</small>]], and the biblical [[Personal Name|PN]] Zimri, etc. This would suggest an etymology based on a root *''lmh'', *''lmḥ'' or *''lmḫ''. However, no such roots appear in [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]]. Nevertheless, a gentilic from a root ''lmh'' has been suggested ([[John A. Tvedtnes|JAT]]). Also, based on the pattern of Zimri, “my help/my strength," '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' might mean “my ''lmh''.”
The structure of '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' seems to follow the well-established pattern of [[LEHI|L<small>EHI</small>]], [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]], [[OMNI|O<small>MNI</small>]], and the biblical [[Personal Name|PN]] Zimri, etc. This would suggest an etymology based on a root *''lmh'', *''lmḥ'' or *''lmḫ''. However, no such roots appear in [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]]. Nevertheless, a gentilic from a root ''lmh'' has been suggested ([[John A. Tvedtnes|JAT]]). Also, based on the pattern of Zimri, “my help/my strength," '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' might mean “my ''lmh''.”
The element ''lim'' could be related to several Semitic words. In Ugaritic ''lim'' is a cognate with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] ''lĕʾom'', and both mean “people/nation.” Together with the [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] word for “alive; live,” ''ḥay'', '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' might be etymologized as “the people live,” that is, “the people are preserved alive.” ([[Robert F. Smith|RFS]])
The element ''lim'' could be related to several Semitic words. In Ugaritic ''lim'' is a cognate with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] לאם ''lĕʾom'', and both mean “people/nation.” Together with the [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] word for “alive; live,” חי ''ḥay'', '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' might be etymologized as “the people live,” that is, “the people are preserved alive.” ([[Robert F. Smith|RFS]])


The element ''lim'' also occurs in Amorite [[Personal Name|PN]]s of the Bronze Age, perhaps the most prominent being the king of Mari, Zimri-Lim. If, as the consensus affirms, ''lim'' is an Amorite theophoric element,<ref>[[Herbert B. Huffmon]], ''Amorite Names in the Mari Texts'' (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1965), 226.</ref> then perhaps by syncretism with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] Yahweh, it could be used as such among the Lehites. Thus, when the theophoric element ''lim'' is combined with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] ''ḥay'', “live; life,” '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' could mean, “Lim makes life,” or perhaps, “Lim has preserved life.”   
The element ''lim'' also occurs in Amorite [[Personal Name|PN]]s of the Bronze Age, perhaps the most prominent being the king of Mari, Zimri-Lim. If, as the consensus affirms, ''lim'' is an Amorite theophoric element,<ref>[[Herbert B. Huffmon]], ''Amorite Names in the Mari Texts'' (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1965), 226.</ref> then perhaps by syncretism with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] Yahweh, it could be used as such among the Lehites. Thus, when the theophoric element ''lim'' is combined with [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] חי ''ḥay'', “live; life,” '''L<small>IMHI</small>''' could mean, “Lim makes life,” or perhaps, “Lim has preserved life.”   


In Akkadian, ''lim/līmu'' means “1,000” (which may be related to [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] ''lĕʾom'', “people"<ref> [[W. Von Soden, Akkadisches Handwörterbuch. 3 vols. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1965–1981.|''Akkadisches Handwörterbuch'']] 1:553b.</ref>) and is used as a shorted form of “thousand gods” that appear in Syro-Hittite treaties and Ugaritic texts.<ref>[[Herbert B. Huffmon|Huffmon]], 226.</ref> But Akkadian ''līmu'' and its Ugaritic cognate ''lim'' do not seem to be helpful in explaining Lehite names ([[Jo Ann Hackett|JH]]).
In Akkadian, ''lim/līmu'' means “1,000” (which may be related to [[HEBREW|H<small>EBREW</small>]] לאם ''lĕʾom'', “people"<ref> [[W. Von Soden, Akkadisches Handwörterbuch. 3 vols. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1965–1981.|''Akkadisches Handwörterbuch'']] 1:553b.</ref>) and is used as a shorted form of “thousand gods” that appear in Syro-Hittite treaties and Ugaritic texts.<ref>[[Herbert B. Huffmon|Huffmon]], 226.</ref> But Akkadian ''līmu'' and its Ugaritic cognate ''lim'' do not seem to be helpful in explaining Lehite names ([[Jo Ann Hackett|JH]]).
An etymology based on ''lmk'' such as the biblical [[Personal Name|PN]] Lamech is unlikely. While it is true that under certain conditions, the Masoretic pronunciation of ''k'' is spirantized, thus allowing for a transcribed /h/, it would not be spirantized in '''L<small>IMHI</small>''', even if the Lehites held to the much later Masoretic pronunciation conventions.
An etymology based on ''lmk'' such as the biblical [[Personal Name|PN]] Lamech is unlikely. While it is true that under certain conditions, the Masoretic pronunciation of ''k'' is spirantized, thus allowing for a transcribed /h/, it would not be spirantized in '''L<small>IMHI</small>''', even if the Lehites held to the much later Masoretic pronunciation conventions.
Other etymologies might be sought in other North-west Semitic, East Semitic, and South Semitic languages, and possibly in [[EGYPTIAN(S)|E<small>GYPTIAN</small>]].
Other etymologies might be sought in other North-west Semitic, East Semitic, and South Semitic languages, and possibly in [[EGYPTIAN(S)|E<small>GYPTIAN</small>]].

Latest revision as of 13:11, 22 September 2023

Lehtie PN 1. King of LEHI-NEPHI, son of NOAH, 4th c. BC (Mosiah 7:9, 14, 16, 17; 8:1, 3, 4; 19:16, 17 (x2), 26, 27, 28, 29; 20:6 (x2), 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14 (x2), 16, 23, 25, 26; 21:1, 3, 9, 11, 17, 18, 22, 25, 28, 32, 33, 36; 22:1, 2, 10 (x2), 11, 14, 15; 23:30; 25:16, 17; 28:11 (x2); Alma 1:8; Helaman 5:21; Ether 1:2; 15:33)

Etymology

The structure of LIMHI seems to follow the well-established pattern of LEHI, NEPHI, OMNI, and the biblical PN Zimri, etc. This would suggest an etymology based on a root *lmh, *lmḥ or *lmḫ. However, no such roots appear in HEBREW. Nevertheless, a gentilic from a root lmh has been suggested (JAT). Also, based on the pattern of Zimri, “my help/my strength," LIMHI might mean “my lmh.” The element lim could be related to several Semitic words. In Ugaritic lim is a cognate with HEBREW לאם lĕʾom, and both mean “people/nation.” Together with the HEBREW word for “alive; live,” חי ḥay, LIMHI might be etymologized as “the people live,” that is, “the people are preserved alive.” (RFS)

The element lim also occurs in Amorite PNs of the Bronze Age, perhaps the most prominent being the king of Mari, Zimri-Lim. If, as the consensus affirms, lim is an Amorite theophoric element,[1] then perhaps by syncretism with HEBREW Yahweh, it could be used as such among the Lehites. Thus, when the theophoric element lim is combined with HEBREW חי ḥay, “live; life,” LIMHI could mean, “Lim makes life,” or perhaps, “Lim has preserved life.”

In Akkadian, lim/līmu means “1,000” (which may be related to HEBREW לאם lĕʾom, “people"[2]) and is used as a shorted form of “thousand gods” that appear in Syro-Hittite treaties and Ugaritic texts.[3] But Akkadian līmu and its Ugaritic cognate lim do not seem to be helpful in explaining Lehite names (JH). An etymology based on lmk such as the biblical PN Lamech is unlikely. While it is true that under certain conditions, the Masoretic pronunciation of k is spirantized, thus allowing for a transcribed /h/, it would not be spirantized in LIMHI, even if the Lehites held to the much later Masoretic pronunciation conventions. Other etymologies might be sought in other North-west Semitic, East Semitic, and South Semitic languages, and possibly in EGYPTIAN. Cf. Book of Mormon LIMHER, LIMHAH, LIMNAH, and possibly LAMAH.[4]

Variants

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐢𐐆𐐣𐐐𐐌 (lɪmhaɪ)

Notes

  1. ↑ Herbert B. Huffmon, Amorite Names in the Mari Texts (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1965), 226.
  2. ↑ Akkadisches Handwörterbuch 1:553b.
  3. ↑ Huffmon, 226.
  4. ↑ The brother names MAHAH and ORIHAH are not included in this list because they are exclusively JAREDITE names attested only in Ether 6:14, while all the names above are attested exclusively in NEPHITE/Mulekite contexts. On the other hand, all the NEPHITE names ending in -hah only appear in the NEPHITE record after the NEPHITES could have theoretically come in contact with JAREDITE names.
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