Original Word: שֻׁם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shum
Pronunciation: shoom
Phonetic Spelling: (shoom)
NASB: name, names, named
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H8034 (שֵׁם - name)]

1. name

name

(Aramaic) corresponding to shem -- name.

see HEBREW shem

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to shem
Definition
a name
NASB Translation
name (8), named (1), names (3).

Aramaic Occurrences and Historical Setting

שֻׁם appears only in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel—books that chronicle Judah’s restoration from exile and the witness of God’s people in foreign courts. Every usage comes in contexts where questions of authority, identity, and testimony before pagan powers are in view. Thus, the term becomes a literary marker underscoring whose “name” truly rules history.

Temple Restoration and the Name of the God of Israel (Ezra 5–6)

1. Prophetic Authorization (Ezra 5:1). Haggai and Zechariah “prophesied … in the name of the God of Israel.” The restoration work is launched not by Persian policy but by divine mandate.
2. Imperial Scrutiny (Ezra 5:4, 5:10). Tattenai demands, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?” Recording the builders’ names serves two purposes: imperial accountability and scriptural testimony that real men of faith obeyed God.
3. Sacred Vessels and Royal Edicts (Ezra 5:14). Sheshbazzar is entrusted with temple articles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken “from the temple in Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his god.” The contrast of “temple of his god” with the rebuilt house “in the name” of the Lord highlights the battle between false and true worship.
4. Divine Protection (Ezra 6:12). Darius’ decree invokes a curse on anyone who would alter the ruling: “May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree.” God binds a world empire to honor His name and purposes.

Conflict of Names in the Babylonian Court (Daniel 2–5)

1. Praise and Wisdom (Daniel 2:20). Daniel blesses “the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.” The verse introduces the theme that human kingdoms rise and fall under the dominion of the One whose name endures.
2. Royal Interrogation (Daniel 2:26). Nebuchadnezzar addresses “Belteshazzar, whose name is Daniel,” revealing the tension between the God-given Hebrew name (God is my Judge) and the Babylonian name honoring a pagan deity.
3. Identity in Ministry (Daniel 4:8, 4:19). Twice in chapter 4 the narrator notes that Daniel was “called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god.” Daniel serves the king faithfully yet quietly stands as a living contradiction to Babylonian idolatry: the wisdom that saves the empire does not come from the god in whose name he is labeled but from the God whose name he bears in truth.
4. Spirit-Empowered Insight (Daniel 5:12). Under Belshazzar, Daniel is summoned because “an excellent spirit, knowledge, and insight” were found “in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar.” The text again juxtaposes human naming with divine gifting; the supremacy of the LORD’s name is vindicated when Daniel reads the “Mene, Mene” judgment.

Theological Themes

• Name as Revelation of Character

In Scripture a name encapsulates essence. Whether designating Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness or the false deities of Babylon, שֻׁם signals whose character is on display. Ezra links the temple’s reconstruction to God’s dwelling “where He has caused His Name to dwell” (Ezra 6:12), reminding readers that the restored community exists for manifesting God’s holiness.

• Name as Authority

Kings issue decrees, but only the decree bearing God’s name is unassailable. Darius’ edict (Ezra 6:12) and Nebuchadnezzar’s recognition (Daniel 4:34–37) together testify that earthly sovereignty is derivative; the Most High answers to no one.

• Name and Witness in Exile

Daniel and the returnees embody how faithful people carry God’s name in hostile settings. They accept secular labels yet never relinquish their spiritual identity. Their lives anticipate the New Testament calling: “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).

Practical Ministry Significance

1. Motivation for Obedience

Ezra 5 shows that authentic ministry commences “in the name of the God of Israel.” Programs, resources, and permissions are secondary to divine commissioning.

2. Integrity under Examination

When civil authorities demand, “What are your names?” (Ezra 5:4), God’s servants respond truthfully and respectfully, confident that the Judge of all will vindicate His workers.

3. Perseverance in a Culture of Competing Names

Daniel models how to live with a secular identity (Belteshazzar) without compromising a sacred allegiance. Modern believers may carry professional titles, academic credentials, or cultural stereotypes, yet their ultimate identity is bound to the name above every name.

4. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Reputation

The overarching lesson is that God stakes His reputation on His redemptive plan. He guards His name, disciplines His people, and confronts empires so that “all the inhabitants of the earth may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17).

Christological Perspective

The Old Testament emphasis on God’s name foreshadows the revelation of Jesus Christ, who prayed, “Father, glorify Your name” (John 12:28) and commissioned His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The Aramaic occurrences of שֻׁם remind the Church that from exile to Pentecost, God advances His kingdom through a people who trust in, speak for, and live under His holy name.

בְּשֻׁ֛ם בשם כְּשֻׁ֣ם כשם שְׁמֵ֔הּ שְׁמֵ֖הּ שְׁמֵ֣הּ שְׁמֵ֤הּ שְׁמָהָ֣ת שְׁמָהָתְהֹ֛ם שֻׁם־ שם־ שמה שמהת שמהתהם bə·šum beShum bəšum kə·šum keShum kəšum šə·mā·hā·ṯə·hōm šə·mā·hāṯ šə·mêh šəmāhāṯ šəmāhāṯəhōm šəmêh shemaHat shemahateHom sheMeh shum šum-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts