Shalmaneser is the biblical Hebrew form of the ancient Akkadian name Shulmanu-Ashared, meaning "Shulmanu is preeminent." This sacred theophoric name honors Shulmanu, an Eastern Semitic (Mesopotamian) god associated with battle, whose own name is possibly cognate with the Western Semitic deity Shalim, derived from a root meaning "peace."
Historical Context
The name Shalmaneser was borne by five Assyrian kings who ruled during the Neo-Assyrian period of the 9th to 7th centuries BC. The most notable is Shalmaneser III (reigned 859–824 BC), under whom the Assyrian Empire reached its zenith in territorial expansion and military dominance. His campaigns extended into Syria, Palestine, and Anatolia, and he is recorded in ancient annals documenting battles against a coalition that included King Ahab of Israel. The other celebrated bearer, Shalmaneser V (reigned 727–722 BC), is remembered for his conquest of the northern Kingdom of Israel and the subsequent deportation of its people, which traditional sources associate with the beginning of the "Ten Lost Tribes" narrative.
Biblical Connection
Shalmaneser appears briefly in the Old Testament (2 Kings 17:3, 2 Kings 18:9) as Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria, who besieged Samaria and forced the Israelites into exile. The biblical account presents these events as divine judgment for Israel's idolatry, with Shalmaneser acting as an instrument of God. His reference, though sparse, underscores the intersection of Assyrian history and Hebrew scripture.
Usage in Bibles
In English translations, "Shalmaneser" appears in the Deuterocanonical book of Tobit (1:15) in some versions, referring directly to Shalmaneser V, indicating the enduring presence of this name across Jewish and Christian traditions. The Septuagint and Vulgate consistently preserve the Greek/ Latin transl iteration. As a given name today, it is obsolete but maintained in religious and historical studies.
Variant Forms
The name's original Shulmanu-Ashared was composed in cuneiform script. The Hebrew form Shalmanʾeser derives from the semantic congruence between Akkadian and Hebrew representational scripts. Related names include the divine Shulmanu and root Shalim.
- Meaning: Shulmanu is preeminent (theophoric)
- Origin: Akkadian; biblical Hebrew
- Cultural Type: Royal name
- Usage Regions: Messier1: Assyria, Biblical Israel