8033. sham
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 Origin
a prim. adverb
Definition
there, thither
NASB Translation
direction (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
שָׁם adverb there, thither (Arabic there, compare then; Biblical Aramaic תַּמָּה, Egyptian Aramaic תמה S-CPap. A 4, J 6, ᵑ7 תַּמָּן (with demonstrative n, compare אֱדַיִן beside אֲזַי), Syriac ; ZenjHad. 8 (Cooke159) שם); —

1. a. there Genesis 2:8,12; Genesis 11:2,7,31 + often; placed early in sentence for emphasis, Micah 4:10 שָׁם תִּנָּצֵ֑לִי, Nahum 3:15; Ezekiel 32:22,24; Psalm 104:26 +, וְשָׁם ֗֗֗ Genesis 41:12; Exodus 15:27; Numbers 13:22,33 +, שָׁם ֗֗֗ וְשָׁם Exodus 15:25; Deuteronomy 12:14; Isaiah 27:10; Job 3:17 +, וְהִנֵּה שָׁם ֗֗֗ Genesis 29:2, כִּי שָׁם ֗֗֗ Genesis 11:9; Genesis 21:31; Genesis 35:7; 2 Samuel 1:21; 2 Samuel 15:21 +, אַךְ שָׁם ֗֗֗ Isaiah 34:14,15, גַּם שָׁם ֗֗֗ Isaiah 23:12; Isaiah 57:7; Psalm 139:10; resuming a preceding 'where,' Job 39:30 בַּאֲשֶׁר חֲלָלִים שָׁם הוּא, Judges 5:27; Jeremiah 22:12; Ecclesiastes 11:3, compare Ecclesiastes 1:7. Repeated, שָׁם ֗֗֗ שָׁם here ... there Isaiah 28:10,13. In poetry, pointing to a spot in which a scene is localized vividly in the imagination, Psalm 14:5 שׁם פחדו פחד there feared they a fear! Psalm 36:13, compare Psalm 48:7; Psalm 66:6; Psalm 132:17; Hosea 6:7; Zephaniah 1:14. — Habakkuk 3:4 read probably (We Now) שָׂם the flashes at his side made he the hiding of his power; Ecclesiastes 3:17 שָׁם = with God, in the Divine plan or scheme: but read perhaps שָׂם Hi De and others

b. preceded by the rel., אֲשֶׁר שָׁם 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 בַּאֲשֶׁר, בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם Genesis 21:17. With אשׁר omitted (the relative being indicated by construct, Ges§ 130 c, d) Ezekiel 39:11 מְקוֺם שָׁם קֶבֶר ׳בְּיִשְׂר a place where a grave (may be) in Israel, but ᵐ5 ᵑ7 Co Or and others read שֵׁם a place of renown.

2 thither, after verbs of motion ( = שָׁ֫מָּה, see

3), Deuteronomy 1:37 לֹא תָבאֹ שָׁם, Judges 19:15; Judges 21:10; 1 Samuel 2:14; 1 Samuel 9:6 and elsewhere; אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ שָׁם whither, 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 21:18; 2 Kings 1:4,6,16; Isaiah 20:6, more often in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, as Jeremiah 8:3; Jeremiah 22:27; Jeremiah 23:3,8; Jeremiah 45:5 +, Ezekiel 4:13; Ezekiel 12:16; Ezekiel 36:20,22 +; so שֶׁשָּׁם Psalm 122:4.

3 with ה locative, שָׁ֫מָּה (sh¹mm¹h):

a. after verbs of motion, thither, Genesis 19:20 לָנוּס שָׁ֫מָּה to flee thither, 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 וְתֶןשָֿׁ֫מָּה מְלֹא הָעֹמֶר, Exodus 21:33 וְנָפַל שָׁמָּה, Exodus 30:18; Judges 8:25; 2 Kings 12:10; pregnantly, after a verb implying motion, as to bury, Genesis 23:13 וְאֶקְבְּרָה אֶתמֵֿתִי שָׁ֫מָּה, Genesis 25:10; Genesis 49:31; Genesis 50:5 (all P), נוֺעַד to meet Exodus 29:42,43; Exodus 30:6,36; Numbers 17:19 (all P), Joshua 2:16; Joshua 7:3; Jeremiah 13:7; Joel 4:7, perhaps Songs 8:5 (? c).

b. אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ שָׁ֫מָּה whither Genesis 20:13; Numbers 33:54; Deuteronomy 4:5,14 + often; where 2 Kings 23:8; 1 Chronicles 4:41.

c. more rarely, i. q. שָׁם there, Genesis 43:30 וַיֵּבְךְ שָׁ֫מָּה, 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 שָׁם), Ezekiel 48:35 שָׁ֫מָּה ׳י, Psalm 76:4; Psalm 122:5; Ecclesiastes 3:16.

4 מִשָּׁם from there, thence:

a. 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 וַיַּרְא מִשָּׁם, Deuteronomy 4:29 וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם, Deuteronomy 30:4; Jeremiah 37:12; Hosea 2:17; Amos 9:2,3,4; Job 39:29 +. Peculiarly, Genesis 49:24 ׳מִשָּׁם רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשְׂר Ges De RVm from there [from heaven], (from) the Shepherd (׳י), the Stone (Rock) of Israel, Ew Di Sta from there (where is) the Shepherd of (רֹעֵה) the (Bethel-)stone of Israel; but both forced: text dubious; Gunk by the name (מִשֵּׁם; so ᵑ6) of the Shepherd, etc. (as Ew Di).

b. אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ מִשָּׁם whence Genesis 24:5; Numbers 23:13 +.

c. expressing origin, Genesis 3:23 the ground אֲשֶׁר לֻקַּח מִשָּׁם, Genesis 10:14 whence (= from whom) came forth the Philistines, Judges 19:18 מִשָּׁם אָנֹכִי, 1 Samuel 10:12 אִישׁ מִשָּׁם, Isaiah 65:20.

d. of the mass, from which something is taken or made, Genesis 27:9; Genesis 30:32 (of צאֹן), Leviticus 2:2 ׳וְקָמַץ מִשָּׁם זגו (from the meal, etc., of a מנחה), 1 Kings 17:13 אַךְ עֲשִׁי לִי מִשָּׁם עֻגָה קְטַנָּה i.e. from the meal and oil, 2 Kings 7:2,19 וּמִשָּׁם לֹא תאֵֹ˜כל׃, Ezekiel 5:3.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage

שָׁם 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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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 2:8
HEB: מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם
NAS: in Eden; and there He placed
KJV: in Eden; and there he put
INT: the east placed and there the man whom

Genesis 2:10
HEB: אֶת־ הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה
NAS: the garden; and from there it divided
INT: to water the garden there divided and became

Genesis 2:11
HEB: הַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ שָׁ֖ם הַזָּהָֽב׃
NAS: of Havilah, where there is gold.
INT: of Havilah where there is gold

Genesis 2:12
HEB: הַהִ֖וא ט֑וֹב שָׁ֥ם הַבְּדֹ֖לַח וְאֶ֥בֶן
NAS: and the onyx stone are there.
INT: of that is good are there the bdellium stone

Genesis 3:23
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֻקַּ֖ח מִשָּֽׁם׃
INT: which was taken in it

Genesis 10:14
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֥וּ מִשָּׁ֛ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וְאֶת־
INT: which came in it Philistine Caphthorim

Genesis 11:2
HEB: שִׁנְעָ֖ר וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃
NAS: of Shinar and settled there.
INT: of Shinar and settled there

Genesis 11:7
HEB: נֵֽרְדָ֔ה וְנָבְלָ֥ה שָׁ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר֙
NAS: let Us go down and there confuse
INT: go confuse and there their language so

Genesis 11:8
HEB: יְהוָ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם מִשָּׁ֖ם עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י
NAS: scattered them abroad from there over
KJV: scattered them abroad from thence upon the face
INT: scattered the LORD there over the face

Genesis 11:9
HEB: בָּבֶ֔ל כִּי־ שָׁ֛ם בָּלַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה
NAS: Babel, because there the LORD confused
INT: Babel because there confused the LORD

Genesis 11:9
HEB: כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וּמִשָּׁם֙ הֱפִיצָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה
NAS: earth; and from there the LORD
INT: of the whole earth there scattered the LORD

Genesis 11:31
HEB: חָרָ֖ן וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃
NAS: as Haran, and settled there.
INT: Haran and settled there

Genesis 12:7
HEB: הַזֹּ֑את וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַיהוָ֖ה
NAS: an altar there to the LORD
INT: this built there an altar to the LORD

Genesis 12:8
HEB: וַיַּעְתֵּ֨ק מִשָּׁ֜ם הָהָ֗רָה מִקֶּ֛דֶם
NAS: Then he proceeded from there to the mountain
INT: proceeded there to the mountain the east

Genesis 12:8
HEB: מִקֶּ֔דֶם וַיִּֽבֶן־ שָׁ֤ם מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה
NAS: on the east; and there he built
INT: the east built and there an altar to the LORD

Genesis 12:10
HEB: מִצְרַ֙יְמָה֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֥ד
NAS: to sojourn there, for the famine
INT: to Egypt to sojourn there for was severe

Genesis 13:3
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ הָ֨יָה שָׁ֤ם [אָהֳלֹה כ]
INT: after had been in it tent the beginning

Genesis 13:4
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ עָ֥שָׂה שָׁ֖ם בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א
NAS: he had made there formerly;
INT: which had made there formerly called

Genesis 13:4
HEB: בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א שָׁ֛ם אַבְרָ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם
NAS: there formerly; and there Abram called
INT: formerly called and there Abram the name

Genesis 13:14
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ אַתָּ֣ה שָׁ֑ם צָפֹ֥נָה וָנֶ֖גְבָּה
INT: after you in it are northward and southward

Genesis 13:18
HEB: בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִּֽבֶן־ שָׁ֥ם מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃
NAS: are in Hebron, and there he built
INT: Hebron built and there an altar to the LORD

Genesis 14:10
HEB: וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה וַיִּפְּלוּ־ שָׁ֑מָּה וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים הֶ֥רָה
INT: and Gomorrah fell who survived to the hill

Genesis 18:16
HEB: וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ מִשָּׁם֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ
NAS: rose up from there, and looked down
INT: rose there and the men and looked

Genesis 18:22
HEB: וַיִּפְנ֤וּ מִשָּׁם֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ
NAS: turned away from there and went
INT: turned there the men and went

Genesis 18:28
HEB: אִם־ אֶמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃
NAS: I find forty-five there.
INT: if find there forty five

833 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8033
833 Occurrences


m — 12 Occ.
māh — 4 Occ.
miš·šām — 106 Occ.
miš·šām — 2 Occ.
šām — 523 Occ.
šā·māh — 1 Occ.
šām·māh — 129 Occ.
šeš·šām — 1 Occ.
ū·miš·šām — 8 Occ.
wə·šām — 38 Occ.
wə·šām·māh — 8 Occ.
wə·šām — 1 Occ.

8032b
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