Lexical Summary
sham: There, thither
Original Word:שָׁם
Part of Speech:Adverb
Transliteration:sham
Pronunciation:shahm
Phonetic Spelling:(shawm)
KJV: in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), + thither, + whither
NASB:there, where, here, where there, which, direction, place
Word Origin:[a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun,H834 (אֲשֶׁר - which))]
1. there (transferring to time) then
2. often thither, or thence
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
in it, thence, there in, of, out, thither, whither
A primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun,'aher); there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence -- in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), + thither, + whither.
see HEBREW'aher
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. adverb
Definitionthere, thither
NASB Translationdirection (1), everywhere* (1), here (3), place (1), rested* (1), there (609), there for ourselves where (1), there where there (1), there* (2), there...where (1), where (8), where there (2), where* (129), wherever (1), wherever* (6), which (2), whom* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Arabic
there, compare
then; Biblical Aramaic , Egyptian Aramaic S-C
Pap. A 4, J 6, (with demonstrative
n, compare beside ), Syriac
; Zenj
Had. 8 (Cooke
159) ); —
thereGenesis 2:8,12;Genesis 11:2,7,31 + often; placed early in sentence for emphasis,Micah 4:10 ,Nahum 3:15;Ezekiel 32:22,24;Psalm 104:26 +,Genesis 41:12;Exodus 15:27;Numbers 13:22,33 +,Exodus 15:25;Deuteronomy 12:14;Isaiah 27:10;Job 3:17 +,Genesis 29:2,Genesis 11:9;Genesis 21:31;Genesis 35:7;2 Samuel 1:21;2 Samuel 15:21 +,Isaiah 34:14,15,Isaiah 23:12;Isaiah 57:7;Psalm 139:10; resuming a preceding 'where,'Job 39:30 ,Judges 5:27;Jeremiah 22:12;Ecclesiastes 11:3, compareEcclesiastes 1:7. Repeated,here ...thereIsaiah 28:10,13. In poetry, pointing to a spot in which a scene is localized vividly in the imagination,Psalm 14:5there feared they a fear!Psalm 36:13, comparePsalm 48:7;Psalm 66:6;Psalm 132:17;Hosea 6:7;Zephaniah 1:14. —Habakkuk 3:4 read probably (We Now) the flashes at his sidemade he the hiding of his power;Ecclesiastes 3:17 =with God, in the Divine plan or scheme: but read perhaps Hi De and others
,where,Genesis 2:11;Exodus 20:21;1 Samuel 9:10 +, usually with one or more words between,Genesis 13:3,14;Genesis 19:27;Exodus 29:42;2 Samuel 11:16;2 Kings 23:27 + often; after ,Genesis 21:17. With omitted (the relative being indicated by construct, Ges§ 130 c, d)Ezekiel 39:11 a placewhere a grave (may be) in Israel, but Co Or and others read a place ofrenown.
thither, after verbs of motion ( = , see
),Deuteronomy 1:37 ,Judges 19:15;Judges 21:10;1 Samuel 2:14;1 Samuel 9:6 and elsewhere;whither,1 Kings 18:10;1 Kings 21:18;2 Kings 1:4,6,16;Isaiah 20:6, more often in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, asJeremiah 8:3;Jeremiah 22:27;Jeremiah 23:3,8;Jeremiah 45:5 +,Ezekiel 4:13;Ezekiel 12:16;Ezekiel 36:20,22 +; soPsalm 122:4.
locative, (sh¹mm¹h):
,thither,Genesis 19:20 to fleethither,Genesis 19:22;Genesis 20:13;Genesis 24:6;Genesis 29:3;Deuteronomy 1:38 + often; =into it, therein (of a basket, pit, etc.),Exodus 16:33 ,Exodus 21:33 ,Exodus 30:18;Judges 8:25;2 Kings 12:10; pregnantly, after a verb implying motion, asto bury,Genesis 23:13 ,Genesis 25:10;Genesis 49:31;Genesis 50:5 (all P),to meetExodus 29:42,43;Exodus 30:6,36;Numbers 17:19 (all P),Joshua 2:16;Joshua 7:3;Jeremiah 13:7; Joel 4:7, perhapsSongs 8:5 (? ).
whitherGenesis 20:13;Numbers 33:54;Deuteronomy 4:5,14 + often;where2 Kings 23:8;1 Chronicles 4:41.
, i. q.there,Genesis 43:30 ,Joshua 2:1;Judges 16:27;2 Kings 4:11;2 Kings 9:16;Hosea 2:17;Isaiah 22:18;Isaiah 34:15;Isaiah 65:9;Jeremiah 18:2;Jeremiah 27:22;Ezekiel 23:3;Ezekiel 32:29,30 (Ezekiel 32:22;Ezekiel 32:24;Ezekiel 32:26 ),Ezekiel 48:35 ,Psalm 76:4;Psalm 122:5;Ecclesiastes 3:16.
from there, thence:
often after verbs of departing, taking, etc.,Genesis 2:10;Genesis 11:8,9;Genesis 12:8;Genesis 18:16;Genesis 24:7;Genesis 42:2, etc.,Numbers 13:23;Numbers 21:12;Numbers 22:41 ,Deuteronomy 4:29 ,Deuteronomy 30:4;Jeremiah 37:12;Hosea 2:17;Amos 9:2,3,4;Job 39:29 +. Peculiarly,Genesis 49:24 Ges De RVmfrom there [from heaven], (from) the Shepherd (), the Stone (Rock) of Israel, Ew Di Stafrom there (where is) the Shepherd of () the (Bethel-)stone of Israel; but both forced: text dubious; Gunk by the name (; so ) of the Shepherd, etc. (as Ew Di).
whenceGenesis 24:5;Numbers 23:13 +.
origin,Genesis 3:23 the ground ,Genesis 10:14whence (=from whom) came forth the Philistines,Judges 19:18 ,1 Samuel 10:12 ,Isaiah 65:20.
,from which something is taken or made,Genesis 27:9;Genesis 30:32 (of ),Leviticus 2:2 (from the meal, etc., of a ),1 Kings 17:13 i.e. from the meal and oil,2 Kings 7:2,19 ,Ezekiel 5:3.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageשָׁם occurs roughly 833 times, functioning as the adverb “there,” anchoring people, events, and divine acts to specific locations or moments. Scripture employs the word to highlight the historical reliability of God’s dealings, to create narrative tension, and to frame theological truths. Whether describing an altar, a battle, a covenant ceremony, or a prophetic vision, שָׁם signals that the God of Israel works in real space and time.
God’s Presence and Promise
1. Garden of Eden: “The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there He placed the man He had formed” (Genesis 2:8). The first use ties human life to a divinely prepared place.
2. Patriarchal visions: “There above it stood the LORD” (Genesis 28:13) at Bethel confirms God’s covenant faithfulness.
3. Wilderness instruction: “There He tested them” (Exodus 15:25) underscores God training Israel in dependence.
4. Tabernacle and Temple: “I will meet with the Israelites there” (Exodus 29:43). Later, Deuteronomy repeatedly commands worship at the place God chooses: “There you are to bring your burnt offerings” (Deuteronomy 12:6). שָׁם connects worship to revealed geography.
5. Prophetic encounters: Elijah at Horeb—“There he went into a cave… and the word of the LORD came to him” (1 Kings 19:9).
Covenantal Altars and Memorials
• Shechem: “Abram built an altar there to the LORD” (Genesis 12:7).
• Gilgal: Joshua sets up twelve stones—“They are there to this day” (Joshua 4:9), a perpetual witness of crossing the Jordan.
• Beersheba: “There Abraham called on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 21:33). Each שָׁם marks a tangible covenant marker.
Narrative Patterns
A. Settling and scattering: Babel—“They settled there” (Genesis 11:2) contrasts with divine scattering.
B. Exile realities: Ezekiel’s visions stress God will be “a sanctuary for them there” (Ezekiel 11:16), assuring presence amid displacement.
C. Return and restoration: “There I will give her vineyards” (Hosea 2:15) signals renewal in the very place of judgment.
Wisdom and Poetic Literature
Job, Psalms, and Proverbs use שָׁם to juxtapose human frailty with divine constancy. Example: “When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar… He pours out the rain, and there the clouds empty out” (Jeremiah 10:13).Psalm 133:3 climaxes with “for there the LORD has ordained the blessing—life forevermore,” locating unity’s blessing in Zion.
Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions
Isaiah envisions a future banquet: “On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a feast… and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 25:6–8). The place “there” bends history toward consummation. Ezekiel ends with “And the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD Is There’ ” (Ezekiel 48:35), transforming שָׁם into a divine name, Yahweh-Shammah, guaranteeing eternal presence.
Christological Foreshadowing
While שָׁם is an adverb, Gospel writers subtly echo its theological weight. The promised location where God meets His people culminates in the incarnation—“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Calvary becomes the ultimate “there,” the decisive intersection of God and humanity (John 19:18). Resurrection appearances continue the pattern: “There you will see Him” (Matthew 28:7).
Ministry Implications
1. Historicity: Preaching can stress that redemptive acts occurred in identifiable settings, grounding faith in factual history.
2. Sacred space: Worship should honor the principle that God designates where and how He is approached—ultimately fulfilled in Christ yet still expressed in gathered assembly.
3. Memory stones: Churches can cultivate physical reminders (baptismal fonts, communion tables) that echo biblical memorials.
4. Missional movement: As God met people “there,” believers are sent “from there” to the nations (cf.Acts 1:8).
Summary
שָׁם weaves through Scripture as a small word with expansive theological weight, consistently testifying that the God who is “there” in Eden, Bethel, Sinai, Zion, exile, and finally the New Jerusalem is the same God who remains with His people today.
Forms and Transliterations
וְ֠שָׁם וְשָׁ֕מָּה וְשָׁ֖ם וְשָׁ֖מָּה וְשָׁ֗ם וְשָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשָׁ֞ם וְשָׁ֡ם וְשָׁ֣ם וְשָׁ֣מָּה וְשָׁ֤ם וְשָׁ֥ם וְשָׁ֥מָּה וְשָׁ֨ם וְשָׁם֙ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם וּמִשָּׁ֤ם וּמִשָּׁם֙ ומשם ושם ושמה ם מִ֠שָּׁם מִשָּֽׁם׃ מִשָּׁ֑ם מִשָּׁ֔ם מִשָּׁ֔ם֙ מִשָּׁ֖ם מִשָּׁ֗ם מִשָּׁ֛ם מִשָּׁ֜ם מִשָּׁ֡ם מִשָּׁ֣ם מִשָּׁ֤ם מִשָּׁ֥ם מִשָּׁ֨ם מִשָּׁם֒ מִשָּׁם֙ מִשָּׁם֩ מִשָּׁם֮ מה משם משם׃ שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם שָּׁ֑ם שָּׁ֔ם שָּׁ֖ם שָּׁ֗ם שָּׁ֙מָּה֙ שָּׁ֛ם שָּׁ֜ם שָּׁ֣ם שָּׁ֣ם ׀ שָּׁ֥ם ׀ שָּׁ֨ם שָּׁם֙ שָֽׁם־ שָֽׁם׃ שָֽׁמָּה׃ שָׁ֑ם שָׁ֑מָּה שָׁ֔ם שָׁ֔מָּה שָׁ֔מָה שָׁ֕ם שָׁ֕מָּה שָׁ֖ם שָׁ֖מָּה שָׁ֗ם שָׁ֗מָּה שָׁ֙מָּה֙ שָׁ֚ם שָׁ֚מָּה שָׁ֛ם שָׁ֛מָּה שָׁ֜ם שָׁ֜מָּה שָׁ֝֗ם שָׁ֞ם שָׁ֠ם שָׁ֣ם שָׁ֣מָּה שָׁ֤ם שָׁ֤ם ׀ שָׁ֤מָּה שָׁ֥ם שָׁ֥מָּה שָׁ֧ם שָׁ֨ם שָׁ֨ם ׀ שָׁ֨מָּה שָׁ֨מָּה ׀ שָׁ֭ם שָׁ֭מָּה שָׁם֒ שָׁם֙ שָׁ֙מָּה֙ שם שם־ שם׃ שמה שמה׃ ששם m mah māh miš·šām mishSham Mishshom miššām šā·māh šām šām- šām·māh šāmāh šāmmāh šeš·šām šeššām Sham Shamah Shammah sheshSham ū·miš·šām umishSham ūmiššām veSham veShammah Veshom wə·šām wə·šām·māh wəšām wəšāmmāh
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