What does שְׂמֹאול mean in the Bible?
e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand".
Hebrew · H8040
שְׂמֹאול
Properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שְׂמֹאולH8040
What does שְׂמֹאול mean in the Bible?
שְׂמֹאול is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand".
Full entry for שְׂמֹאול (H8040) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8040?
The BSB source-word alignment has 54 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include or to the left (13), on the north (4), the left (4), and left (3), and his left hand (2).
Where does שְׂמֹאול appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 13:9. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (6), Genesis (6), Deuteronomy (5), 1 Kings (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itor to the left13×Numbers 20:17, Deuteronomy 2:27, Deuteronomy 5:32, Deuteronomy 17:11
on the north4×2 Chronicles 3:17, 2 Chronicles 4:6, 2 Chronicles 4:7, 2 Chronicles 4:8
the left4×2 Kings 23:8, 1 Chronicles 6:44, Isaiah 9:20, Zechariah 12:6
and left3×2 Samuel 16:6, Isaiah 54:3, Zechariah 4:11
and his left hand2×Judges 16:29, Daniel 12:7
and on His left2×1 Kings 22:19, 2 Chronicles 18:18
and on their left2×Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29
His left hand2×Song Of Solomon 2:6, Song Of Solomon 8:3
on the left2×Joshua 19:27, 1 Kings 7:49
. . .1×Genesis 24:49
and at his left1×Nehemiah 8:4
from their left1×Jonah 4:11
from your left1×Ezekiel 39:3
he put his left1×Genesis 48:14
in her left hand1×Proverbs 3:16
in his left hand1×Genesis 48:13
in the north1×Job 23:9
in their left1×Judges 7:20
its left1×Zechariah 4:3
left hand1×Genesis 48:13
north1×Genesis 14:15
on the left side1×Ezekiel 1:10
or left1×Numbers 22:26
the north1×1 Kings 7:39
to the left1×Ecclesiastes 10:2
with his left1×Judges 3:21
you go to the left1×Genesis 13:9
your left1×2 Samuel 2:21
your north1×Ezekiel 16:46
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 13:9הַשְּׂמֹ֣אלtoyou go to the leftArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 14:15מִשְּׂמֹ֖אלtonorthPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 24:49שְׂמֹֽאל׃to. . .Noun - masculine singularGenesis 48:13מִשְּׂמֹ֣אלtoleft handPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 48:13בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹtoin his left handPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 48:14שְׂמֹאל֖וֹtohe put his leftNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 14:22וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃toand on their leftConjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralExodus 14:29וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽםtoand on their leftConjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralNumbers 20:17וּשְׂמֹ֔אולtoor to the leftConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularNumbers 22:26וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃toor leftConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 13:9
Aligned rows54
Books represented22
Genesis6Exodus2Numbers2Deuteronomy5Joshua3Judges31 Samuel12 Samuel31 Kings32 Kings21 Chronicles12 Chronicles6Nehemiah1Job1Proverbs2Ecclesiastes1Song Of Solomon2Isaiah2Ezekiel3Daniel1Jonah1Zechariah3
Source forms
וּשְׂמֹ֑אול5xū·śə·mō·wlDeuteronomy 17:20, Deuteronomy 28:14, Joshua 1:7, 1 Samuel 6:12
וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃4xū·śə·mō·wlNumbers 22:26, Deuteronomy 2:27, Joshua 23:6, 2 Chronicles 34:2
וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃2xū·miś·śə·mō·lōw2 Samuel 16:6, 1 Kings 22:19
וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃2xū·śə·mōlDeuteronomy 5:32, Deuteronomy 17:11
שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙2xśə·mō·lōwSong Of Solomon 2:6, Song Of Solomon 8:3
בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ1xbiś·mō·w·lāhProverbs 3:16
בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ1xḇiś·mō·lōwGenesis 48:13
בִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃1xbiś·mō·lōwJudges 16:29
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular14xNumbers 20:17, Numbers 22:26, Deuteronomy 2:27, Deuteronomy 5:32
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular6xGenesis 14:15, Joshua 19:27, 1 Kings 7:49, 2 Chronicles 4:6
Noun - masculine singular5xGenesis 24:49, 2 Kings 23:8, Job 23:9, Isaiah 9:20
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular4xGenesis 48:14, Judges 3:21, Song Of Solomon 2:6, Song Of Solomon 8:3
Article | Noun - masculine singular3xGenesis 13:9, 2 Samuel 2:19, 1 Chronicles 6:44
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular3x2 Samuel 16:6, 1 Kings 22:19, Nehemiah 8:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 18:18, Daniel 12:7
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural2xExodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand
Source Gloss
properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand BDB: the left Usage: left (hand, side).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
שְׂמֹאול is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.