שְׁמוּאֵל140 H8050
Samuel — prophet, priest, and last judge of Israel who anointed both Saul and David as king
Shemu'el is a theophoric name popularly connected with the verb sha'al ('to ask'), reflecting Hannah's prayer: 'I asked him of the LORD' (1 Sam 1:20). The name's 140 occurrences overwhelmingly designate the prophet who bridged Israel's transition from judges to monarchy. Dedicated to temple service as a child (1 Sam 1:24-28), Samuel grew into the nation's spiritual authority — hearing God's voice at Shiloh (1 Sam 3:4-10), leading Israel's repentance at Mizpah (1 Sam 7:5-6), and reluctantly anointing first Saul (1 Sam 10:1) then David (1 Sam 16:13). Even after death, his stature endures: Jeremiah pairs him with Moses as intercessor (Jer 15:1), and Psalm 99:6 counts him among those who called upon the LORD.
Senses
1. Samuel (prophet and judge of Israel) — The proper name Shemu'el, borne primarily by the prophet, priest, and last judge of Israel, son of Elkanah and Hannah of the hill country of Ephraim. Named in connection with sha'al ('to ask,' 1 Sam 1:20), he served from childhood at the Shiloh sanctuary and became the pivotal figure in Israel's transition to monarchy, anointing both Saul and David. Minor bearers include a Simeonite leader (Num 34:20) and an Issacharite clan head (1 Chr 7:2). The Septuagint renders it Samouēl, giving the familiar form shared by Spanish, French, and German translations. 140×
AR["صَمُوئِيلَ", "صَمُوئِيلُ"]·ben["শমূয়েল", "শমূয়েলের"]·DE["Samuel"]·EN["Shemuel"]·FR["Samuel"]·heb["שמואל"]·HI["शमूएल", "शमूएल-को", "शमूएल-ने", "शेमूएल"]·ID["Samuel"]·IT["Samuele"]·jav["Samuel"]·KO["사무엘"]·PT["Shemu'el"]·RU["Шмуэль", "Шмуэлю", "Шмуэля"]·ES["Samuel"]·SW["Samweli"]·TR["Şemuel", "Şmuel"]·urd["سموئیل", "شموئیل", "شموئیل-نے", "شموئیل-کو"]
1 Sam 1:20, 1 Sam 2:21, 1 Sam 2:26, 1 Sam 3:1, 1 Sam 3:4, 1 Sam 3:6, 1 Sam 3:6, 1 Sam 3:8, 1 Sam 3:9, 1 Sam 3:10, 1 Sam 3:10, 1 Sam 3:10 (+38 more)
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שְׁמוּאֵל140 n.pr.m. Samuel (= name of Ēl Thes al. (or, his name is Ēl HomHeb. Trad. 98 f. WklKAT3 225 Now 1 S 1:20), cf. פְּנוּאֵל, רְעוּאֵל; v. Dr 1 S 1:20; PrätZMG 1903, 777 ff. caritative from יִשְׁמָעֵאל; Palm. שמואל Lzb 377; v. further GieAT1 Schätzung d. Gottesn. (1901), 102 ff.);— 1. great prophet, 11th cent. b.c., Σαμουηλ: 1 S 1:20 (name expl. as if from שָׁאַל), 1:18, 21, 26 + 125 times…