True Bible Answers

What is the meaning ofHashem?

Here is what can be found on the name Hashem:

Morrish's Bible Dictionary gives this entry:

Hashem. [Ha'shem] A Gizonite, father of some of David's mighty men. 1 Chr. 11:34. Apparently the same as JASHEN in 2 Sam. 23:32.

Morrish's Bible Dictionary

The related entry under Gizonite adds:

Designation of Hashem, whose sons were among David's guard: the origin of the name is not known. 1 Chr. 11:34.

Gizonite

So in Scripture, Hashem the Gizonite is a man listed among the fathers of David's mighty warriors (1 Chronicles 11:34). He appears to be the same person called Jashen in the parallel list in 2 Samuel 23:32. Morrish notes that the origin of the designation "Gizonite" is itself unknown.

Separately, J.N. Darby uses the related Hebrew word Hashemanim in his critical notes on Psalm 68:31, translating it as "princes":

"The Hashemanim [or princes] shall come from Egypt. Cush shall speedily bring his power [or submit] to Elohim."

J.N. Darby

This connects to the broader Hebrew root: hashemanim can carry the sense of noble or princely ones, possibly related to shemen (oil, fatness — a symbol of abundance and dignity).

In summary, Hashem in the Bible is a proper name identifying one of the fathers of David's elite guard. The dictionary candidly states that "the origin of the name is not known," though the related plural form Hashemanim carries the meaning of princes or nobles.