The Hebrew word Tsᵉmârîy, represented by H6786, is a patrial term for a Tsemarite or branch of the Canaanites; Zemarite. This term is derived from an unused name of a place in Palestine. It is a highly specific designation, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the entire Bible.
In its biblical usage, Tsᵉmârîy appears exclusively within genealogical lists that outline the early families of nations. In both Genesis 10:18 and 1 Chronicles 1:16, the Zemarite is listed alongside the Arvadite and the Hamathite. The context provided in Genesis clarifies their lineage, stating that “afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad” Genesis 10:18, explicitly identifying the Zemarites as a Canaanite people group.
The theological significance of Tsᵉmârîy is derived entirely from its identity as a branch of the Canaanites.
- Genealogical Placement: The inclusion of the Zemarite in Genesis 10:18 situates them within the “Table of Nations” as one of the families descending from Canaan.
- A People Slated for Displacement: As a Canaanite people H3669, the Zemarites are, by extension, one of the nations God vowed to drive out of the promised land before the Israelites Deuteronomy 7:1.
- A Call to Separation: The explicit commands for Israel not to intermarry with the daughters of the Canaanites Genesis 24:3 or to partake in their abominations Ezra 9:1 implicitly apply to all the families of the Canaanites, including the Zemarites.
In summary, H6786 Tsᵉmârîy is a specific term for the Zemarite people. While its direct appearances are confined to two genealogical lists, its importance is understood through its classification as one of the “families of the Canaanites” Genesis 10:18. This connection frames the Zemarites as part of the collective group that inhabited the promised land prior to the Israelite conquest.
