Original Word: שַׂלְמָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Salma'
Pronunciation: sahl-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-maw')
KJV: Salma
NASB: Salma
Word Origin: [probably for H8008 (שַׂלמָה - clothes)]

1. clothing
2. Salma, the name of two Israelites

Salma

Probably for salmah; clothing; Salma, the name of two Israelites -- Salma.

see HEBREW salmah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
father of Boaz, same as NH8012, also the founder of Bethlehem
NASB Translation
Salma (4).

Occurrences in Scripture

שַׂלְמָא (Salma) appears four times, all in 1 Chronicles 2: twice in verse 11 and once each in verses 51 and 54. Every instance is embedded in the Judahite genealogies.

Genealogical Placement and Messianic Importance

1 Chronicles 2:11 records, “Nahshon was the father of Salma, and Salma was the father of Boaz.” By linking Nahshon (leader of Judah in the wilderness) to Boaz (the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth), the Chronicler firmly positions Salma in the royal line that culminates in David and ultimately in the Messiah (Ruth 4:20-22; Matthew 1:4-6). Salma therefore serves as a vital generational bridge between the exodus generation and the Bethlehem family into which David is born.

Connection with Bethlehem

1 Chronicles 2:51 names “Salma the father of Bethlehem,” while 2 Chronicles 2:54 lists “the sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites.” In Old Testament genealogies “father” often carries the sense of “founder” or “clan chief.” Salma thus stands as progenitor of the Bethlehemite clan within Judah. His association with Bethlehem foreshadows the town’s later prophetic and redemptive significance (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-11).

Clan Administration within Judah

The sons or subdivisions listed under Salma (Bethlehem, Netophathites, etc.) represent local groups occupying territory around southern Judah. By placing these villages under Salma’s patronage, the Chronicler highlights how one man’s household can expand into multiple settlements, illustrating the tribe’s growth from the patriarchal period to the monarchy.

Historical and Cultural Setting

Salma’s lifetime spans the transition from wilderness wanderings to the early occupation of Canaan. His father Nahshon marched at the head of Judah (Numbers 10:14), and his son Boaz prospered during the era of the Judges. The name’s repeated appearance in 1 Chronicles 2 indicates that post-exilic Judah still traced its civic identity and land tenure back to these early founders, reinforcing continuity after the Babylonian captivity.

Ministry Reflections

1. God weaves covenant faithfulness through ordinary family lines; little-known ancestors like Salma play indispensable roles in redemption history.
2. The link between Salma and Bethlehem reminds believers that God appoints places as well as people for His purposes. A seemingly obscure village became the birthplace of the Savior.
3. Salma’s genealogical bridge encourages leaders today to view ministry in terms of generational impact. Investing in family and community can shape spiritual destinies long after one’s own lifetime.

וְשַׂלְמָ֖א ושלמא שַׂלְמָ֔א שַׂלְמָ֗א שַׂלְמָא֙ שלמא śal·mā salMa śalmā vesalMa wə·śal·mā wəśalmāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts