### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Shᵉmâʻ**, represented by `{{H8090}}`, is the name for **Shema, a place in Palestine**. Its base definition is derived from a related term for report or fame. This word is exceptionally specific, appearing just **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible, where it serves to identify a particular town.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H8090}}` is in the book of Joshua, within a detailed list of the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah in the southernmost part of its territory. The verse lists it alongside two other towns, stating, "Amam, and **Shema**, and Moladah" [[Joshua 15:26]]. This placement firmly grounds the location within the geographical and historical context of Israel's settlement in the promised land.
### Related Words & Concepts
The words associated with `{{H8090}}` are the other towns listed in the same verse, which help to define its location:
* `{{H538}}` **ʼĂmâm**: Defined as a **gathering-spot; Amam, a place in Palestine**. It is mentioned only in conjunction with Shema, highlighting their close geographical proximity [[Joshua 15:26]].
* `{{H4137}}` **Môlâdâh**: Meaning **birth; Moladah, a place in Palestine**. This town appears alongside Shema in [[Joshua 15:26]] and is also mentioned in other allotment and census lists, including those in [[Joshua 19:2]], [[1 Chronicles 4:28]], and [[Nehemiah 11:26]], further cementing the region where Shema was located.
### Theological Significance
While a single place name has limited direct theological weight, its inclusion in scripture is significant.
* **Historical Specificity:** The mention of `{{H8090}}` demonstrates the Bible's commitment to detailed historical and geographical record-keeping, particularly concerning the division of the promised land.
* **Fulfillment of Promise:** Its presence in the list of cities in Judah [[Joshua 15:26]] is part of the larger narrative of God fulfilling His covenant promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham.
* **Divine Allotment:** The name functions as a marker within the sacred act of distributing the land by lot, a process overseen by God to provide an inheritance for each tribe.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8090}}` **Shᵉmâʻ** is a precise geographical reference rather than a broad theological term. Its singular use in [[Joshua 15:26]] serves a crucial purpose: to document the specific boundaries and cities of the inheritance given to the tribe of Judah. It stands as a testament to the detailed and historically-grounded nature of the biblical account of Israel's settlement.
TRV