Sam

Lehite PN Son of Lehi No. 1, brother of Nephi No. 1, ca. 600 BC (1 Nephi 1: preface; 2:5, 17; 4:28; 7:6; 8:3, 14; 2 Nephi 1:28; 4:11; 5:6; Alma 3:6)

Brief Etymology: The Lehite PN Sam, read as šem but pronounced as Sem or Sam in the dialect of the northern tribes of Ephraim, is found on a bronze ring-mounted seal dating to the seventh century BC. Alternatively, SAM may also be a hypocoristic or shortened form of šěmû’ēl, the Hebrew form of the PN Samuel.

Extended Discussion: The name SAM is found on a bronze ring-mounted seal dating to the seventh century BC. While others have read this name as Shem in paleo-Hebrew, it may have been pronounced in different ways in various dialects of Hebrew including as an s sound in the northern dialects of Ephraim or Manasseh. From the story in Judges 12:6, we find that some of the tribes of Joseph pronounced the initial letter s instead of š, a variation that is significant since Lehi was a descendant of Joseph (see 1 Nephi 5:14) (JAT, JG).

SAM may also plausibly be a shortened form of the biblical name Samuel, even though neither SAM nor Samuel reflect the Hebrew pronunciation šěmû’ēl, which might be expected from the plates of Nephi. That SAM is the English version of what was on the document underlying the Book of Mormon is supported by examples of other names in the Book of Mormon that also take King James biblical spellings rather than reflecting the Hebrew pronunciation, such as Jacob, not the Hebrew form Ya’ăkōb, and Messiah, not Māšîaḥ. Additionally, besides the regular though mutable nature of the sibilants š, ś, and s in and among the various Semitic languages, the change form the Hebrew š in Samuel to s (as in English) occurs in the Greek text of the Old Testament because Greek has only one character, sigma, for transcribing Hebrew sibilants. Therefore ,the explanation of SAM as the English equivalent of a hypocoristicon (shortened form) of Samuel may have merit.

The Book of Mormon name SAM reflects the Arabic pronunciation of Shem, Noah’s son. Some have objected that it is unlikely that the Lehites would use an Arabic form when the Hebrew name was available (JAT), but that is not clear given the frequent use of Arabic words and cultural attributes early in the Book of Mormon. This proposal has the proper vocalization.

Alternatively, Hugh Nibley noted in 1948, SAM may be related to the ancient Egyptian personal name Sm3, “Sam,” as in SM3-tswy (Samtowe) “Uniter of the Two Lands,” the Horus name of Pharaoh Mentuhotep I Nebhepetre of the Eleventh Dynasty, who reigned fifty-one years—a name element used by others and transliterated in Greek as Sem-, and in Coptic as som, sem, sam, which means “to subdue; press, pound” (RFS).

George Reynolds suggested a derivation form the ancient Egyptian word sam, meaning an order of the priesthood—to which at least one Ramesside king belonged.