SAM: Difference between revisions
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|Lehite PN | |Lehite PN | ||
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|Son of | |Son of '''LEHI''' I, brother of '''NEPHI''' I, ca. 600 BC ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/2/5#5 1 Nephi 2:5]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/3/6#6 Alma 3:6]) | ||
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The eyymology of this name remains open. In north-west Semitic languages the element ''sumu/samu/šumu'' is well attested in texts that predate the Hebrew Bible, namely Amorite and Ugaritic.1 The meaning however remains uncertain, though it has been linked to the common Semitic vocable ''šm'', meaning "name."2 If '''SAM''' is related to biblical ''Samuel'' (see below), then ''samu'' may be a theophoris element.3 Or the name itself could be hypocoristic. The final /''u''/ of ''sumu/samu/šumu'' is most likely a nominative case ending and need not be considered when determining etymology. | |||
The vocable ''šm'' appears in Aramaic names in Egypt, e.g., ''šm'', ''šmṭb'', and ''šmʾdd''.4 | |||
Because the English name ''Sam'' is a shortened version of the Hebrew ''Samuel'', it has often been assumed that this is the origin of Book Mormon '''SAM'''. While there is no evidence that the ancient Hebrews ever shortened ''Samuel'' to ''Sam'', the Amorite PNs containing the element ''sam''- would support the sugestion that '''SAM''' could be a hypocoristicon meaning, "Name of..." See the Amorite PN ''sa-mu-ú-i-la''.5 | |||
== | |||
Other etymologies have been suggested. Early on it was suggested that '''SAM''' is '''EGYPTIAN'''.6 Nibley suggested the Egyptian title ''s3m'', "uniter."7 Others have referred to the Arabic SAM, which is the Arabic form of the biblical name '''SHEM'''.8 However, it is unlikely that the Lehites would have used the Arabic form of '''SHEM''' when the Hebrew form of the name is attested at the close of the Lehite period, late in the Book of Mormon (JAT).9 | |||
==Notes== | |||
1 See Huffmon, ''Names'', 247-49; and Gröndahl, ''Peronennamen'', 193f. | |||
2 Huffmon, ''Names'', 247. | |||
3 ''HALOT'', sub שמואל. | |||
4 Bezalel Porten and Jerome A. Lund, ''Aramaic Documents from Egypt: A Key-Word-in-Context Concordance'' (Winona Lake IN: Eisenbrauns, 2002), 414-415. | |||
5 Huffmon, ''Names'', 247. | |||
6 Reynolds and Sjodahl, 1:16&26; and Reynolds, ''Story of the Book of Mormon'', p. 298. | |||
7 ''LID'', 30&45. | |||
8 ''ABM'', 59-60. | |||
9 Mormon 2:20-21 and 6:14. | |||
Revision as of 09:28, 11 May 2011
| Lehite PN | 1. | Son of LEHI I, brother of NEPHI I, ca. 600 BC (1 Nephi 2:5; Alma 3:6) |
The eyymology of this name remains open. In north-west Semitic languages the element sumu/samu/šumu is well attested in texts that predate the Hebrew Bible, namely Amorite and Ugaritic.1 The meaning however remains uncertain, though it has been linked to the common Semitic vocable šm, meaning "name."2 If SAM is related to biblical Samuel (see below), then samu may be a theophoris element.3 Or the name itself could be hypocoristic. The final /u/ of sumu/samu/šumu is most likely a nominative case ending and need not be considered when determining etymology.
The vocable šm appears in Aramaic names in Egypt, e.g., šm, šmṭb, and šmʾdd.4
Because the English name Sam is a shortened version of the Hebrew Samuel, it has often been assumed that this is the origin of Book Mormon SAM. While there is no evidence that the ancient Hebrews ever shortened Samuel to Sam, the Amorite PNs containing the element sam- would support the sugestion that SAM could be a hypocoristicon meaning, "Name of..." See the Amorite PN sa-mu-ú-i-la.5
Other etymologies have been suggested. Early on it was suggested that SAM is EGYPTIAN.6 Nibley suggested the Egyptian title s3m, "uniter."7 Others have referred to the Arabic SAM, which is the Arabic form of the biblical name SHEM.8 However, it is unlikely that the Lehites would have used the Arabic form of SHEM when the Hebrew form of the name is attested at the close of the Lehite period, late in the Book of Mormon (JAT).9
Notes
1 See Huffmon, Names, 247-49; and Gröndahl, Peronennamen, 193f. 2 Huffmon, Names, 247. 3 HALOT, sub שמואל. 4 Bezalel Porten and Jerome A. Lund, Aramaic Documents from Egypt: A Key-Word-in-Context Concordance (Winona Lake IN: Eisenbrauns, 2002), 414-415. 5 Huffmon, Names, 247. 6 Reynolds and Sjodahl, 1:16&26; and Reynolds, Story of the Book of Mormon, p. 298. 7 LID, 30&45. 8 ABM, 59-60. 9 Mormon 2:20-21 and 6:14.
