"And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles... But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Shammah Meaning in the Bible
Shammah
boy
Shammah means "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Shammah appears in the King James Bible, and 2 Samuel 23:11-12 is the passage most often tied to it. Shammah teaches that standing your ground on small things — even a lentil field — can be the most courageous act of all.
Is Shammah in the Bible?
Yes — Shammah (spelled Shama in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Samuel 23:11-12.
Pronunciation:/SHAM-uh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningAstonishment; Desolation; Fame
What does Shammah mean?
Shammah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame". Shammah was one of David's three mightiest warriors who single-handedly defended a field of lentils against a Philistine army when all of Israel fled.
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What does Shammah mean in the Bible?
Shammah means "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Shammah was one of David's three mightiest warriors who single-handedly defended a field of lentils against a Philistine army when all of Israel fled. His stand — over a seemingly insignificant lentil field — teaches that faithful defense of small things is heroic in God's eyes.
Where does Shammah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Shammah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with 2 Samuel 23:11-12. Each verse is quoted in full below.
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What are the variants and nicknames of Shammah?
Shammah has 2 recorded variants, short forms, and translations across languages and biblical traditions.
Which books of the Bible mention Shammah?
Shammah is mentioned across 3 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Shammah?
Shammah teaches that standing your ground on small things — even a lentil field — can be the most courageous act of all.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Shammah:
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What names are related to Shammah?
Names like Shammah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Shammah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Shammah
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Shammah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Shammah (spelled Shama in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Samuel 23:11-12.
Shammah means "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 2 Samuel 23:11-12, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Shammah comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "Astonishment; Desolation; Fame." It appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Samuel 23:11-12.
Common questions about the name Shammah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Shammah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Shammah?
You can read every verse where Shammah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.