What Does Genesis 36:3 Mean in the King James?
And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Even in a bare genealogy, fragrance stands beside the declaration that God hears.
THE MEANING
This line keeps a family connection visible: Bashemath is identified through her father, Ishmael, and her brother, Nebajoth. Her name carries the sense of fragrance, while Ishmael’s carries “God hears”; lineage holds identity and remembered meaning together.
THE ROOT
בָּשְׂמַת
Bāśəmaṯ
GROWS FROM
ב־ש־ם
Scent, fragrance, aromatic spice
Bashemath is commonly understood as “fragrance” or “spice,” from this aromatic word family. The verse places that scent-bearing name beside Ishmael, “God hears,” letting a family line carry both a quality and a testimony.
ALSO GROWS
bōśem: Aromatic spice or perfume
בֹּשֶׂם
This related word gives Bashemath’s name its fragrance-bearing sense.
bəśāmīm: Spices or aromatics
בְּשָׂמִים
The plural names fragrant substances, extending the sensory image carried by Bashemath’s name.
יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Yišmāʿēl
GROWS FROM
שׁ־מ־ע
To hear, listen, or heed
Ishmael joins יִשְׁמַע, “he hears,” with אֵל, “God”: “God hears.” The hearing in the name remains present in this family line, carrying more than a genealogical label.
ALSO GROWS
šāmaʿ: To hear or listen
שָׁמַע
This verb supplies the hearing named in Ishmael.
šəmūʿāh: A report or thing heard
שְׁמוּעָה
This noun shows the root extending from hearing itself to what is heard and carried onward.
THE PATTERN
Fragrance makes an unseen offering perceptible and memorable.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.THE THREAD
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.This verse explains Ishmael through שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ), “hear”: his name means “God hears.” Here, that hearing travels in a family name, keeping the heard affliction within the line.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.
A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us