ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝ
Solomon, the wise king of Israel, stood as a symbol of wealth, justice, and architectural genius, primarily for his construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. His renown for wisdom, surpassing all others, establishes him as a central figure in the Judeo-Christian tradition. His lexarithmos (1260) reflects the completeness and complexity of his legacy.
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Solomon (Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה, Shlomo) was, according to the Old Testament, the third king of the united kingdom of Israel, succeeding his father, David. His reign, traditionally dated from approximately 970 to 931 BCE, is considered a golden age for Israel, characterized by peace, prosperity, and extensive building activity.
Solomon's fame is inextricably linked to his supreme wisdom, which he requested from God and was granted in abundance (1 Kings 3:5-14). This wisdom manifested in his ability to judge justly, resolve difficult problems, and compose proverbs and songs. The books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs in the Old Testament are traditionally attributed to him, making him a central author of biblical wisdom literature.
His most significant achievement was the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, a magnificent edifice that became the center of Israelite worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. This Temple, known as Solomon's Temple, represented the architectural and spiritual culmination of his reign, although Solomon's later history also includes a fall into idolatry due to his many foreign wives.
Etymology
As a proper noun, Solomon does not have linguistically "cognate" words in the sense of a common root within Greek. However, his figure has functioned as a conceptual nucleus around which a "lexicon" of theological and historical terms directly associated with his kingship, wisdom, and works developed. These words, though not sharing a phonological root, are inseparable from Solomon's history and legacy in the Greek biblical tradition.
Main Meanings
- The King of Israel — The primary reference to the historical figure, son of David, who reigned in Jerusalem.
- Symbol of Supreme Wisdom — The embodiment of God-given wisdom, judgment, and knowledge, as described in the Wisdom books.
- Builder of the Temple — The identification with the constructor of the First Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for Israel.
- Author of Wisdom Literature — The attribution of the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs to his person.
- Symbol of Wealth and Glory — The reference to his reign as an era of great prosperity, wealth, and international recognition for Israel.
- Warning Against Apostasy — The story of his fall into idolatry due to his foreign wives, serving as an example to avoid.
Word Family
Solomon- (root of wisdom and kingship)
The figure of Solomon, though a proper noun, functions as a conceptual root for a family of words and concepts that shaped biblical tradition. This root is not linguistic in the strict sense but thematic, as all members of the family are directly connected to the life, work, wisdom, and legacy of King Solomon. Each word highlights a different aspect of his influence, from his familial origins to his spiritual achievements and material works.
Philosophical Journey
The history of Solomon, though initially recorded in Hebrew texts, profoundly shaped Greek-speaking theological and historical thought through translation and interpretation.
In Ancient Texts
Solomon is referenced in numerous biblical texts, in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting his enduring significance.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝ is 1260, from the sum of its letter values:
1260 decomposes into 1200 (hundreds) + 60 (tens) + 0 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 1260 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 9 | 1+2+6+0 = 9 — Ennead, the number of completion and divine fullness. |
| Letter Count | 7 | 7 letters (S-O-L-O-M-O-N) — Heptad, the number of perfection and creation. |
| Cumulative | 0/60/1200 | Units 0 · Tens 60 · Hundreds 1200 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Σ-Ο-Λ-Ο-Μ-Ω-Ν | Sophia Holokleros Lampros Ouranios Merimna Ophelimos Noesis (interpretive: Complete Wisdom, Bright Heavenly Care, Beneficial Intellect) |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 4S · 0M | 3 vowels (O, O, Ω), 4 sonorants (Σ, Λ, Μ, Ν), 0 mutes |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Moon ☽ / Aries ♈ | 1260 mod 7 = 0 · 1260 mod 12 = 0 |
Isopsephic Words (1260)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (1260) as Solomon, but from different roots, offer interesting conceptual parallels.
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 87 words with lexarithmos 1260. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
- Septuagint — Vetus Testamentum Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis editum. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, various years.
- Josephus, Flavius — Jewish Antiquities. Loeb Classical Library.
- Walton, J. H. — Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.
- Longman III, T. — The Book of Ecclesiastes. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
- Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs — The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha. 5th ed. Oxford University Press, 2018.