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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Samson


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Samson
Samuel
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Samson Samson

Samson, son of the Danite Manoah of Zorah, is the Bible's legendary strong man, a Nazirite who judges Israel for twenty years, until his heroic death in the temple of Dagon.

The name Samson comes from the word shmsh (shemesh 2417a), sun (the meaning of the root shmsh is unknown). The sun is mentioned well over a hundred times in the OT, in all kinds of usages. Surrounding nations worshipped the sun but Israel was strictly told not to (Deut 4:19), although respectful parallels with the Living God were certainly drawn (Psalm 84:11). The sun is a mighty creature but ultimately God has it in His hands (Josh 10:13 but also Ex 10:21-29).

The name Samson is the word shemesh postfixed with the waw-nun extension. This extension personifies or localizes the root: the name Samson means Sun Man.

A related name is Beth-shemesh.



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