|
|
|
Etymology •
& Meaning •
Hebrew •
Greek •
Bible •
Names •
|
|
|
Meaning and etymology of the Hebrew name Bathsheba
|
|
| | |
Bathsheba 
Bathsheba, daughter of Ammiel, is the wife of Uriah, a Hittite and high ranking soldier in king David's army. He's also unfortunate enough to be the king's neighbor. When Uriah is out fighting his king's war, David summons Bathsheba and impregnates her. To deal with this, he places Uriah front-center at the battle front and then withdraws his army (Uriah himself carries this order to general Joab - 11:14). Uriah subsequently dies by arrows at the battle of Rabbah.
This particularly gruesome act violates at least two out of the Ten Commandments, and God sends the prophet Nathan to king David to sort him out. King David unknowingly passes a death sentence over himself, but Nathan tells him that not he but his child will not live. After seven days David and Bathsheba's son dies nameless. But Bathsheba conceives again and this time the child is loved by God (12:24). David and Bathsheba name their son Solomon, but Nathan the prophet calls him Jedidiah.
The name Bathshua consists of two elements. The first element is the common Hebrew word (bat), meaning daughter. Other names that consist of this word are Bathshua and Bithiah
It comes from the word (ben), meaning son in all kinds of ways and applications (son, cousin, member of group). See for an exhaustive treatment of this word the name Ben.
The second element of the name Bathsheba is , which is a name itself, namely Sheba. This name Sheba is identical to the words (sheba), meaning seven and (shaba), meaning to swear (an oath). It is this shaba which is featured in the names
Related names are
Ashbea,
Beersheba,
Elisheba,
Elizabeth,
Jehosheba,
Sheba (II),
and possibly Barsabbas.
For a look at the differences between the meanings of seven and oath, see the related name Elisheba (=Elizabeth).
Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names and NOBS Study Bible Name List agree that the name Bathsheba means Daughter Of An Oath. The alternative, Daughter Of Seven, sounds perfectly bizarre in English, but in Hebrew it holds a marvelous and magnificent meaning. See the name Elizabeth for more details.
|
|
|
•Look for baby names
•Augment your Hebrew language study
•Deepen your knowledge of the Bible
•Enrich your cruise to or travel holiday in Israel
|
|