שׇֽׁמְרָ֑יִן (shom.ra.yin)
shom.ra.yin
Samaria
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun shomrayin refers to Samaria, encompassing both the region and its capital city in northern Palestine. It serves as the Aramaic counterpart to the Hebrew Shomron, appearing only twice in Scripture within the book of Ezra (Ezra 4:10, 17). The term carries the etymological sense of "watch mountain," reflecting the strategic hilltop location of the city.
In these brief occurrences, the word identifies the geographical origin of peoples resettled by Assyrian policy. This historical context is vital for understanding the tensions described in Ezra, where the returnees from Babylon encounter neighbors from Samaria who seek to participate in rebuilding the temple. The name anchors the narrative in a specific political and religious landscape that would influence Jewish identity for centuries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about Samaria in Ezra, we are looking at a place defined by division. The name itself points to a hilltop watchpost, a location of strategic importance that became a center for resettled peoples. For the Jewish community returning from exile, this geographic reality meant living among neighbors whose religious practices were mixed and whose loyalty was often questioned.
This historical tension reminds us that faith communities have always navigated complex relationships with those outside their immediate circle. The text does not offer easy answers but presents a raw look at how identity is formed in the face of perceived threat. It invites us to consider how we view 'the other' and whether our boundaries are built on fear or on a deeper trust in God's sovereignty over all nations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ Samaria1×
- Samaria1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁמְרָ֑יִן1×
- בְּ/שָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:10
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.
This verse identifies Samaria as the settlement point for exiles brought by Assyria, highlighting the mixed ethnic and religious origins of the region's population.
-
Ezra 4:17
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.
Here the term locates the political opponents of the temple reconstruction, showing how the city served as a hub for those seeking to halt Judah's restoration.