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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H8040

שְׂמֹאול

semowlsem-ole'

left

54 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: sᵉmôʼwl

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H8040is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 22 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 44
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H8040

properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand

The King James renders it: left (hand, side).

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

semowl is rendered "left". It stands 54 times in the Hebrew text, across twenty-two books.

  • Six of the uses stand in Genesis, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 13:9Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
  • The Greek text spells it forty-four different ways.

The first use

Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Genesis 13:9הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • and left14
  • left4
  • left his4
  • and from left his3
  • and left his3
  • from left3
  • from north3
  • the left3
  • and from left their2
  • left its2
  • left your2
  • at left his1

and 10 more, 54 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

שְׂמָאלִיsemalileftUses9
שְׂמִיכָהsemikahrugUses1
שְׂמָמִיתsemamithlizardUses1

The words it stands beside

All 54, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

44 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • וּשְׂמֹ֑אול5
  • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃4
  • וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃2
  • וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃2
  • שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙2
  • בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ1
  • בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ1
  • בִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃1
  • הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול1
  • הַשְּׂמֹ֑אול1
  • הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל1
  • וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ1

and 32 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular14HC/Ncmsa
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular6HR/Ncmsa
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular5HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
  • noun · masculine singular4HNcmsa
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular4HNcmsc/Sp3ms
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular3HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular3HTd/Ncmsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular2HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine plural2HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular2HNcmsc/Sp2ms
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singular2HNcmsc/Sp3fs
  • preposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular2HR/Td/Ncmsa

Genesis

six uses
  • Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

    Genesis 13:9

    • הַשְּׂמֹ֣אלhasemolthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the left
  • During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

    Genesis 14:15

    • מִשְּׂמֹ֖אלmisemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from north
  • Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

    Genesis 24:49

    • שְׂמֹֽאל׃semolnoun · masculine singulartagged: left
  • And Joseph took both of them—with Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand—and brought them close to him.

    Genesis 48:13

    • מִשְּׂמֹ֣אלmisemolpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: from left of
    • בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹvismolopreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: at left his
  • But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

    Genesis 48:14

    • שְׂמֹאל֖וֹsemolonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: left his

Exodus

two uses
  • and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

    Exodus 14:22

    • וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃umisemolamconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: and from left their
  • But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

    Exodus 14:29

    • וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽםumisemolamconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: and from left their

Numbers

two uses
  • Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

    Numbers 20:17

    • וּשְׂמֹ֔אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.

    Numbers 22:26

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Deuteronomy

five uses
  • “Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left.

    Deuteronomy 2:27

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.

    Deuteronomy 5:32

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

    Deuteronomy 17:11

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

    Deuteronomy 17:20

    • וּשְׂמֹ֑אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.

    Deuteronomy 28:14

    • וּשְׂמֹ֑אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Joshua

three uses
  • Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.

    Joshua 1:7

    • וּשְׂמֹ֑אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

    Joshua 19:27

    • מִשְּׂמֹֽאל׃misemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from left
  • Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.

    Joshua 23:6

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Judges

three uses
  • And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

    Judges 3:21

    • שְׂמֹאל֔וֹsemolonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: left his
  • The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

    Judges 7:20

    • שְׂמאוֹלָם֙semolamnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: left their
  • And Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other,

    Judges 16:29

    • בִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃bismolopreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: in left his

1 Samuel

one use
  • And the cows headed straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh, staying on that one highway and lowing as they went, never straying to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

    1 Samuel 6:12

    • וּשְׂמֹ֑אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

2 Samuel

three uses
  • and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

    2 Samuel 2:19

    • הַשְּׂמֹ֔אולhasemolthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the left
  • So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

    2 Samuel 2:21

    • שְׂמֹאלֶ֔ךָsemolekhanoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: left your
  • He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.

    2 Samuel 16:6

    • וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃umisemoloconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and from left his

1 Kings

three uses
  • He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.

    1 Kings 7:39

    • מִשְּׂמֹאל֑וֹmisemolopreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: from left its
  • the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

    1 Kings 7:49

    • מִשְּׂמֹ֛אולmisemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from left
  • Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

    1 Kings 22:19

    • וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃umisemoloconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and from left his

2 Kings

two uses
  • And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

    2 Kings 22:2

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃ פusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left
  • Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate.

    2 Kings 23:8

    • שְׂמֹ֥אולsemolnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: left of

1 Chronicles

one use
  • On the left were their kinsmen, the sons of Merari:

    1 Chronicles 6:44

    • הַשְּׂמֹ֑אולhasemolthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the left

2 Chronicles

six uses
  • Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.

    2 Chronicles 3:17

    • מֵֽהַשְּׂמֹ֑אולmehasemolpreposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: from the north
  • He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.

    2 Chronicles 4:6

    • מִשְּׂמֹאול֙misemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from left
  • He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

    2 Chronicles 4:7

    • מִשְּׂמֹֽאול׃ סmisemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from north
  • Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.

    2 Chronicles 4:8

    • מִשְּׂמֹ֑אולmisemolpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from north
  • Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

    2 Chronicles 18:18

    • וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃usemoloconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and left his
  • And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

    2 Chronicles 34:2

    • וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃usemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Nehemiah

one use
  • Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

    Nehemiah 8:4

    • וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹumisemoloconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and from left his

Job

one use
  • When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

    Job 23:9

    • שְׂמֹ֣אולsemolnoun · masculine singulartagged: left

Proverbs

two uses
  • Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

    Proverbs 3:16

    • בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּbismolahpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: in left her
  • Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

    Proverbs 4:27

    • וּשְׂמֹ֑אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Ecclesiastes

one use
  • A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

    Ecclesiastes 10:2

    • לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃lismolopreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: to left his

Song of Solomon

two uses
  • His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

    Song of Solomon 2:6

    • שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙semolonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: left his
  • His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

    Song of Solomon 8:3

    • שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙semolonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: left his

Isaiah

two uses
  • They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

    Isaiah 9:20

    • שְׂמֹ֖אולsemolnoun · masculine singulartagged: left
  • For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.

    Isaiah 54:3

    • וּשְׂמֹ֖אולusemolconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and left

Ezekiel

three uses
  • The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.

    Ezekiel 1:10

    • מֵֽהַשְּׂמֹ֖אולmehasemolpreposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: from the left
  • Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south.

    Ezekiel 16:46

    • שְׂמֹאולֵ֑ךְsemolekhnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: north your
  • Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand.

    Ezekiel 39:3

    • שְׂמֹאולֶ֑ךָsemolekhanoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: left your

Daniel

one use
  • And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

    Daniel 12:7

    • וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ֙usemoloconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and left his

Jonah

one use
  • So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?”

    Jonah 4:11

    • לִשְׂמֹאל֔וֹlismolopreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and left his

Zechariah

three uses
  • There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.”

    Zechariah 4:3

    • שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ׃semolahnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: left its
  • Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”

    Zechariah 4:11

    • שְׂמֹאולָֽהּ׃semolahnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: left its
  • On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the people of Jerusalem remain secure there.

    Zechariah 12:6

    • שְׂמֹ֛אולsemolnoun · masculine singulartagged: left

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →