Original Word: הָשֵׁם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Hashem
Pronunciation: hah-SHEM
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-shame')
KJV: Hashem
NASB: Hashem
Word Origin: [perhaps from the same as H2828 (חָשׁוּם - Hashum)]

1. wealthy
2. Hashem, an Israelite

Hashem

Perhaps from the same as Chashum; wealthy; Hashem, an Israelite -- Hashem.

see HEBREW Chashum

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
father of one of David's heroes
NASB Translation
Hashem (1).

הָשֵׁם proper name, masculine father of one (or more ?) of David's heroes 1 Chronicles 11:34, but read probably יָשֵׁן 2 Samuel 23:32 and strike out בני; compare Dr^{Sm and} see further below יָשֵׁן.

הַשְׁמָעוּת see below שׁמע.

הָשְׁפוֺת see אַשְׁמֹּת below שׁפת.

הִתּוּךְ see below נתך.

הִתְחַבְּרוּת see below חבר.

Name and Meaning

The personal name הָשֵׁם (Hashem) carries the literal sense “the name,” formed by adding the definite article to the common noun שֵׁם (shem, “name”). While later Judaism would use “Ha-Shem” as a respectful circumlocution for the divine name, the biblical Hashem is a human figure. His appearance as a proper name reminds the reader that even ordinary human names can point, however faintly, to the supreme reality of the Name above every name (Philippians 2:9).

Biblical Occurrence

Hashem is mentioned once, in the catalogue of David’s mighty men:

“the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite” (1 Chronicles 11:34).

The verse presents Hashem as the patriarch of a heroic line that served King David during the united monarchy.

Historical Context

1 Chronicles 11 parallels 2 Samuel 23 in recounting the exploits of David’s elite warriors. These men were instrumental in securing Israel’s borders, establishing Jerusalem as the capital, and supporting David’s reign in righteousness and justice. Each name in the list is testimony to God’s providential use of individuals—some renowned, others obscure—to advance His redemptive program through the Davidic dynasty that would culminate in the Messiah (Luke 1:32-33).

Hashem’s designation “the Gizonite” ties him to the town of Gizōn, whose exact location is uncertain but is generally placed in the Judean-Benjaminite hill country. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, preserves the memory of Hashem’s family line to encourage the restored community: their forefathers had stood faithfully with the anointed king, so they too should stand firm in covenant loyalty.

Textual Notes

In 2 Samuel 23:32 the corresponding entry reads “Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan.” The Masoretic Text thus has “Jashen” where Chronicles has “Hashem.” Many scholars see a simple consonantal transposition (n⇄m), but the Chronicler’s form is the more transparent Hebrew. The Spirit-guided preservation of both readings adds rather than subtracts: the variation highlights how ancient scribes carefully transmitted even minor details and how the Chronicler occasionally relied on alternative source traditions (1 Chronicles 29:29).

Theological and Ministry Reflections

1. Unsung faithfulness. Hashem receives no exploits of his own; Scripture simply mentions his sons among the mighty. Yet God deemed that one phrase was enough to record his lasting contribution. Ministry often flourishes through steady, unseen obedience that shapes the next generation of warriors for the kingdom (2 Timothy 2:2).
2. Household influence. By listing “the sons of Hashem” the Chronicler underscores covenantal lineage. Fathers who fear the Lord leave a spiritual heritage whose impact may surpass their own (Psalm 112:1-2).
3. Unity under the anointed. Hashem the Gizonite, whether from Judah or Benjamin, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with men from across Israel. The mighty-men narrative anticipates the unity believers now enjoy in Christ, who “has made both one” (Ephesians 2:14).
4. The Name and the names. Human names scatter across Scripture; only one Name is ultimately exalted. Hashem’s presence beside that greater reality hints that every faithful servant, however small, becomes part of the chorus that magnifies God’s fame (Revelation 15:3-4).

Legacy in Later Jewish Usage

Centuries after Chronicles, Jewish tradition adopted ha-Shem as a reverent substitute for the Tetragrammaton. Though unrelated to Hashem the Gizonite, this overlap provides an instructive bridge: the biblical narrative that remembered a humble warrior’s household also preserved a linguistic vessel through which later generations would honor Israel’s covenant God.

Summary

Hashem the Gizonite stands as a quiet yet significant reminder that God weaves even the briefest of lives into His sovereign purposes. His name, echoing the divine Name, and his sons, numbered among David’s champions, call believers today to live so that future generations may be equipped to serve the true Son of David with valor and fidelity.

הָשֵׁם֙ השם hā·šêm hāšêm haShemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts