# The Name Benjamin: Etymological Question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 23, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457 "2003-01-23T15:53:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/1 "2003-01-23T15:53:02Z")
The name “Benjamin” is, as I understand it, Hebrew (or Arabic/Aramaic) for ‘son of the right hand’. What would the equivalent for ‘son of the left hand’ be?
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### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/2 "2003-01-23T16:50:33Z")
Ben-smol, from Hebrew _ben_, “son,” and _smol_, “left.”
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/3 "2003-01-23T16:51:36Z")
Bensemol, or something like that, maybe?
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### Author:  [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/4 "2003-01-23T17:10:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Olentzero \*
> The name “Benjamin” is, as I understand it, Hebrew (or Arabic/Aramaic) for ‘son of the right hand’.
“Son of the right”. There is no reference to hand there.
It is also worth noting that Biblical Hebrew does not use many prepositions like “of” - these are filled in by context. So it literally says “son right”, which can be understood to mean “of the right”.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/5 "2003-01-23T17:32:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> **BENJAMIN** m English, French, German, Hungarian, Biblical
> Pronounced: BEN-ja-min
> From the Hebrew name Binyamin which means “son of the south” or “son of the right hand”. Benjamin in the Old Testament was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. This name was also borne by Benjamin Franklin, an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher.
>
> SOURCE: [http://www.behindthename.com/nm/b.html](http://www.behindthename.com/nm/b.html)
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### Author:  [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/6 "2003-01-23T17:49:29Z")
OK, **Izzy** , but what would be “son of the left”? Have **Scuba\_Ben** and **Cap’n A** got it right? My Arabic grammar says “left” is _shimaal_, so would it be something like Bensmol, Bensemol, or Benshemol?
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/7 "2003-01-23T17:58:56Z")
**Whack-A-Mole**.
I don’t think your source is very accurate. There is a specific word in Hebrew for south (_da-rom_) which has nothing to do with Benjamin. Indeed, he was named Benjamin long before the tribes were given thier portions in Israel.
Secondly, while Benjamin’s portion was in the southern part of the land, Judah’s and Simeon’s were still further south.
Lastly, **Scuba-Ben** hit it right on the head. It would be _ben-smol_.
Zev Steinhardt
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/8 "2003-01-23T18:03:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Olentzero \*
> My Arabic grammar says “left” is _shimaal_, so would it be something like Bensmol, Bensemol, or Benshemol?
Bensmol. From what little I’ve seen of Arabic, it is vaguely similar to Hebrew but not directly comparable. (I believe Shalom Aleichem = Sala’am Aleiku).
The “South” translation cited by **Whack-a-Mole** is possibly valid. The Bible sometimes refers to the directions from the perspective of a person facing East, so that East is “Front” etc., making South “Right”. Some commentators have understood the name to be a reference to the birth of Benjamin in a more southerly location as compared to the other sons.
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/9 "2003-01-23T18:05:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> There is a specific word in Hebrew for south (da-rom) which has nothing to do with Benjamin. Indeed, he was named Benjamin long before the tribes were given thier portions in Israel.
>
> Secondly, while Benjamin’s portion was in the southern part of the land, Judah’s and Simeon’s were still further south.
This raises two related questions, **Zev**.
1. I was under the impression that the Negev, the desert area in the southern triangle of modern Israel which is mentioned in passing in several O.T. passages (e.g., “Restore our fortunes, Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev”), was named from the Hebrew word for “south.” Could you expound on what it really means?
2. I was under the impression that at the Division of Tribes after Solomon’s reign, _ten_ went with the north and only Benjamin with Judah. Yet Simeon is on the southern edge of the assigned areas for the tribes, and within the bounds of Judah as a separate kingdom. What’s the scoop here?
_fixed coding_
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### Author:  [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/10 "2003-01-23T18:13:28Z")
**Zev** ,
See _Rashi_
;j
**Poly** ,
The word Negev is from the Hebrew _naguv_ meaning dry, a reference to the desert. It’s use as South is borrowed from the location of the Negev in the South.
The tribe of Simeon was dispersed among the tribe of Judah. I’ve wondered about your question myself.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/11 "2003-01-23T18:17:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \*
> **Whack-A-Mole**.
>
> I don’t think your source is very accurate. There is a specific word in Hebrew for south (_da-rom_) which has nothing to do with Benjamin. Indeed, he was named Benjamin long before the tribes were given thier portions in Israel.\*\*
I can’t even begin to argue the linguistics of it but here it is again.
> [@](#):
>
> BENJAMIN “son of the south” or “son of the right hand” (Hebrew). The biblical Benjamin, twelfth son of Jacob, founded one of the southern tribes of the Jews.
>
> SOURCE: [Etymology of First Names](http://mizian.com.ne.kr/englishwiz/library/names/etymology_of_first_names.htm#B)
And again (with a linguistic description):
> [@](#):
>
> ETYMOLOGY: Hebrew binymîn, son of the south : bn, son; see bn in Appendix II + ymîn, south; see ymn in Appendix II.
>
> SOURCE: [Bartleby.Com](http://www.bartleby.com/61/2/B0190200.html)
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/12 "2003-01-23T19:06:06Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by IzzyR \*
> \*\ ***Zev** ,
>
> See _Rashi_
>
> ;j
>
> **Poly** ,
>
> The word Negev is from the Hebrew _naguv_ meaning dry, a reference to the desert. It’s use as South is borrowed from the location of the Negev in the South.
\*\*
Often, in Hebrew, the derivative of a place name could mean "toward \. Thus, the word _negbah_ (meaning toward the _negev_ also means south, as _yamah_ (toward the sea – _yam_ is sea) means west (as the Medeterranian Sea is to the west of Israel.
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> The tribe of Simeon was dispersed among the tribe of Judah. I’ve wondered about your question myself. \*\*
Yet another one who was long troubled by this as well.
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/13 "2003-01-23T19:26:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Often, in Hebrew, the derivative of a place name could mean "toward \. Thus, the word negbah (meaning toward the negev also means south, as yamah (toward the sea – yam is sea) means west (as the Medeterranian Sea is to the west of Israel.
Ah, as in “I’m Dixie-bound” might be used for “I’m traveling south” in America. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/14 "2003-01-23T19:42:11Z")
Is it just me, or is Bensemol a good name for a hobbit?
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### Author:  [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/15 "2003-01-23T19:47:03Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by IzzyR \*
> **Bensmol. From what little I’ve seen of Arabic, it is vaguely similar to Hebrew but not directly comparable. (I believe Shalom Aleichem = Sala’am Aleiku).**
The greeting in (Egyptian) Arabic is “salaamu 9aleekum” (the 9 represents the pharyngeal fricative) - to me, quite directly comparable to Hebrew. They are, after all, both Semitic languages.
**SC\_Wolf** - IMO, Benshemol is the best-sounding variation, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of linguistic factual support for it.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/16 "2003-01-23T20:01:56Z")
Dang **ZS** …
I was hoping you’d comment on the ymîn equates to south bit I quoted in my previous post. No word on this (pun not intended)?
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### Author:  [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/17 "2003-01-23T20:07:23Z")
OK, back with some more fodder. I just found a Hebrew-English online dictionary [here](http://www.dictionary.co.il/), and under the entry “left” (in the heading ‘Directions’) it gives the word _shmol_ - or shin-mem-alef-lamed. There is a _shva_ under the _shin_, which according to this [site](http://www.geocities.com/fmisrael/alphabet.html) is either the ‘eh’ sound or silent.
Question: How does one tell the difference?
Continuing on, there seems to be a diacritical mark above the _mem_ but the second site doesn’t identify it as such.
Question: What’s it doing there, and does it affect either the _mem_ or the following _alef_?
Ultimately, the question is what lexical restrictions are preventing me from reading the Hebrew word for ‘left’ as _shemol_?
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### Author:  [@Guybud5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guybud5)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/18 "2003-01-23T20:37:21Z")
FWIW, Ben Ya-amin in Modern Hebrew would be “Son will believe”
I’m not sure if Benjamin in Hebrew is Benyamin or ben ya-amin. It makes all the difference.
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### Author:  [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/19 "2003-01-23T20:39:38Z")
**Olentzero** :
The dot is on the left upper side of the Shin, so it’s **S** mol.
The mark above the mem is the “o” sign, that’s why it’s S **mo** l and not smal.
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### Author:  [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-name-benjamin-etymological-question/150457/20 "2003-01-23T20:40:48Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Guybud5 \*
> \*\*
> I’m not sure if Benjamin in Hebrew is Benyamin or ben ya-amin. It makes all the difference. \*\*
It’s the former.
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