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Meaning and etymology of the Hebrew name Basemath




Basemath Basemath


There are two or three women named Basemath (a.k.a. Basemeth) in the Bible. The first Basemath is a wife of Esau and daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis 26:34). In Genesis 36:2 Esau marries Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite. That means that Adah is either a sister of Basemath the First, or the same woman with two names.

The latter is probable, because in Genesis 36:3 Esau marries Basemath the Second, who is the daughter of Ishmael and a sister of Nebaioth. A few chapters before, in Genesis 28:9, Esau marries Mahalath, who is also a daughter of Ishmael, and a sister of Nebaioth. So Mahalath may be a sister of Basemath the Second but may also be the same woman with two names. Finally, there is Basemath, a daughter of Solomon who married Ahimaaz (1 Kings 4:15)

The name Basemath comes from the common Hebrew word bosem (basam) meaning spice, sweet smell (Exodus 30:23, Isaiah 3:24, Esther 2:12). The added letter t may be a remnant of a plural form. That way the name Basemath means Sweet Fragrances.

BDB Theological Dictionary reads Perfume but adds a question mark. NOBS Study Bible Name List renders Fragrance. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Pleasant Smelling.




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