SHEMLON: Difference between revisions

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As has been pointed out (JH), the ending ''-ōn'' is a good form for a GN. Unfortunately, no Semitic root ''šml'' exists to supply the meaning. Therefore, one is tempted to see
'''SHEMLON''' could be derived from the Hebrew personal name ''Samlah'' ([[http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/36.36?lang=eng#35 Genesis 36:36]]) or the Hebrew word for “cloak,” “clothing,” “garment,” etc. (''śimlāh''), both are derived from the otherwise unattested Hebrew root ''śml''. The ending ''-ōn'' is quite common in Hebrew on geograhic names. Therefore, it is possible that S<small>HEMLON</small> means “covered place” (JH), or “place of the cloak” (PYH).  
here a lost root (JAT), perhaps attested in the Ugaritic PN ''bn šml'', meaning unknown (JH). Another possibility for the lost root might be the unattested ''śml'' from Hebrew
''śimlāh'', “cloak,” hence the suggestion for '''SHEMLON''' “covered place” (JH).  


It may be possible to postulate a no longer extant Hebrew root ''šml'' from Arabic ''*samala'', “to scoop/gouge/tear out.” The name would be appropriate if the city were  
Though unattested in North-west Semitic, it may be possible to postulate a Hebrew root ''*šml'' from Arabic ''*samala'', “to scoop/gouge/tear out.” The name would be appropriate if the city were located in a depression. We are reminded that in several Book of Mormon passages, inhabitants of the city of [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]] were able, from a tower near the temple, to see the [[LAMANITE(S)|L<small>AMANITES</small>]] coming against them from the direction of the city of S<small>HEMLON</small>. This may indicate a lower elevation for S<small>HEMLON</small> (JAT).
located in a depression. We are reminded that in several Book of Mormon passages, inhabitants of the city of [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]] were able, from a tower near the temple, to see the  
[[LAMANITE(S)|L<small>AMANITES</small>]] coming against them from the direction of the city of S<small>HEMLON</small>. This may indicate a lower elevation for S<small>HEMLON</small> (JAT).


Other suggestions seem unlikely for various reasons. The combination of Hebrew ''šēm'', “name,” and ''mālôn'', “lodging-place,” would require a vowel between the ''m'' and the  
S<small>HEMLON</small> may be composed of Hebrew ''šēm'', “name,” and ''lyn''/''lwn'', “to rest,” “to lodge,” “to spend the night.” The resulting noun chain, ''*šēmlôn'', might mean, “name of the dwelling.” Hebrew ''šēm'' and  ''mālôn'', “lodging-place,” would require a vowel between the ''m'' and the ''l'', e.g., ''*šēmālôn'' , but the Book of Mormon spelling does not have the called-for vowel.
''l''. It would be more logical to eliminate the preformative ''ma'', the marker of “place,” and see the second element as simply ''lôn'', “resting, lodging.” But even this does not
make a plausible GN. Hebrew ''šemoʾl'', “left, on the left hand, hence, north” (RFS) would be a suitable etymology if, e.g., S<small>HEMLON</small> were to the north of the city of [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]] (JAT).
But this root also fails to qualify because the hypothetical ''*šmʾln'' would require in any Semitic language a vowel to break up the consonant cluster ''-mʾl-'' and the English
transliteration clearly does not have a vowel between the ''m'' and the ''l''.


Until ''r''/''l'' interchanges can be documented between Hebrew and Lehite (such as between Spanish and Portuguese), it seems unlikely that S<small>HEMLON</small> is a corruption of or  
Less likely is a derivation from Hebrew ''śemoʾl'', “left, on the left hand,” hence, “north” (RFS), plus the ending ''-ōn''.<ref> Both Arabic and Akkadian have a /''š''/ as the first letter of the word “left,” not the /''ś''/ or Hebrew. Therefore, that Hebrew ''śemoʾl'', which is written with a sin, could give rise to a [[NEPHITE(S)|N<small>EPHITE</small>]] /''š''/ is no problem. It is the ''shibboleth'' and ''sibboleth'' all over again.</ref>  Though this derivation might provide a plausible meaning,<ref> For example, if S<small>HEMLON</small> were to the north of the city of [[NEPHI|N<small>EPHI</small>]] (JAT), this etymology would make sense.</ref>  such a reading presents difficulties. ''śemoʾl'' plus  ''-ōn'' would yield ''śemoʾlōn'', which has a vowel between the /''m''/ and the /’/. This vowel is necessary in order to break up the consonant cluster ''-mʾl-''.<ref> No Semitic language would tolerate a three consonant cluster such as ''-mʾl-''</ref>  But S<small>HEMLON</small> clearly does not have a vowel anywhere between the /''m''/, the /’/ or the /''l''/. Therefore, an etymology from  ''śemoʾl'' plus ''-ōn'' does not seem likely. The fact that Palmyrenean, a North-west Semitic language related to Hebrew, does not represent orthographically the aleph<ref> See ''DNWSI'', ''šml'', which means in Palmyrenean “left.”</ref>  is probably not relevant.
equivalent to biblical Shimron (JH).


Cf. Book of Mormon [[SHEM|S<small>HEM</small>]], [[SHEMNON|S<small>HEMNON</small>]], [[SHIM|S<small>HIM</small>]], [[SHIMNILOM|S<small>HIMNILOM</small>]]
Until ''r''/''l'' interchanges can be documented between Hebrew and Lehite (such as between Hebrew and [[EGYPTIAN(S)|E<small>GYPTIAN</small>]], and between Spanish and Portuguese), it seems unlikely that S<small>HEMLON</small> is a corruption of or equivalent to biblical Shimron (JH).
A derivation from North-west Semitic ''sml'' meaning “statue” or “image” is probably not possible. The /''s''/ (Hebrew samekh) seldom  changes into /''š''/, as S<small>HEMLON</small> would require.
 
Cf. Book of Mormon [[SHEM|S<small>HEM</small>]], [[SHEMNON|S<small>HEMNON</small>]], [[SHIM|S<small>HIM</small>]], [[SHIMNILOM|S<small>HIMNILOM</small>]]


[[Category:Names]][[Category:Lehite GN]]
[[Category:Names]][[Category:Lehite GN]]

Revision as of 22:51, 23 March 2012

Lehite GN 1. Land, ca. 178 BC (Mosiah 10:7; Alma 23:12)

SHEMLON could be derived from the Hebrew personal name Samlah ([Genesis 36:36]) or the Hebrew word for “cloak,” “clothing,” “garment,” etc. (śimlāh), both are derived from the otherwise unattested Hebrew root śml. The ending -ōn is quite common in Hebrew on geograhic names. Therefore, it is possible that SHEMLON means “covered place” (JH), or “place of the cloak” (PYH).

Though unattested in North-west Semitic, it may be possible to postulate a Hebrew root *šml from Arabic *samala, “to scoop/gouge/tear out.” The name would be appropriate if the city were located in a depression. We are reminded that in several Book of Mormon passages, inhabitants of the city of NEPHI were able, from a tower near the temple, to see the LAMANITES coming against them from the direction of the city of SHEMLON. This may indicate a lower elevation for SHEMLON (JAT).

SHEMLON may be composed of Hebrew šēm, “name,” and lyn/lwn, “to rest,” “to lodge,” “to spend the night.” The resulting noun chain, *šēmlôn, might mean, “name of the dwelling.” Hebrew šēm and mālôn, “lodging-place,” would require a vowel between the m and the l, e.g., *šēmālôn , but the Book of Mormon spelling does not have the called-for vowel.

Less likely is a derivation from Hebrew śemoʾl, “left, on the left hand,” hence, “north” (RFS), plus the ending -ōn.[1] Though this derivation might provide a plausible meaning,[2] such a reading presents difficulties. śemoʾl plus -ōn would yield śemoʾlōn, which has a vowel between the /m/ and the /’/. This vowel is necessary in order to break up the consonant cluster -mʾl-.[3] But SHEMLON clearly does not have a vowel anywhere between the /m/, the /’/ or the /l/. Therefore, an etymology from śemoʾl plus -ōn does not seem likely. The fact that Palmyrenean, a North-west Semitic language related to Hebrew, does not represent orthographically the aleph[4] is probably not relevant.

Until r/l interchanges can be documented between Hebrew and Lehite (such as between Hebrew and EGYPTIAN, and between Spanish and Portuguese), it seems unlikely that SHEMLON is a corruption of or equivalent to biblical Shimron (JH). A derivation from North-west Semitic sml meaning “statue” or “image” is probably not possible. The /s/ (Hebrew samekh) seldom changes into /š/, as SHEMLON would require.

Cf. Book of Mormon SHEM, SHEMNON, SHIM, SHIMNILOM

  1. ↑ Both Arabic and Akkadian have a /š/ as the first letter of the word “left,” not the /ś/ or Hebrew. Therefore, that Hebrew śemoʾl, which is written with a sin, could give rise to a NEPHITE /š/ is no problem. It is the shibboleth and sibboleth all over again.
  2. ↑ For example, if SHEMLON were to the north of the city of NEPHI (JAT), this etymology would make sense.
  3. ↑ No Semitic language would tolerate a three consonant cluster such as -mʾl-
  4. ↑ See DNWSI, šml, which means in Palmyrenean “left.”
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