Basmath is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Basmath appears in the King James Bible in only one verse, 1 Kings 4:15, where she is named as a wife of Ahimaaz. The verse reads: “Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife.” In this setting, Solomon is king of Israel, and the passage belongs to a list of Solomon’s twelve district officers—men appointed to provide provisions for the king and his household. Ahimaaz served as the officer in Naphtali, and the text notes that he married Basmath, a daughter of Solomon. This marriage likely strengthened the bond between the king and one of his regional officials, a common practice in the ancient world.
The source note above identifies a different Basmath: a wife of Esau, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. That woman is named in Genesis 26:34 and 36:2–3, where she is called Basemath (a variant spelling of the same name). She was one of the Hittite wives who brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah. The Basmath of 1 Kings 4:15, however, is a distinct person—a daughter of Solomon who lived generations later, during the united monarchy of Israel. Scripture says nothing else about her beyond this single verse. She is mentioned only as a wife, with no record of her words, deeds, or character.
What Scripture records of Basmath is therefore minimal: she was a king’s daughter given in marriage to one of her father’s appointed officers. Her name appears once, in a administrative list, and then she passes from the biblical record. The text offers no evaluation of her faith or conduct, only the bare fact of her marriage.
The Name
The name Basmath (also spelled Basemath) is a Hebrew name. Its meaning is not clearly recoverable with certainty. Some scholars connect it to a root suggesting “fragrance” or “sweet-smelling,” which would yield a meaning like “fragrant” or “spice.” Others propose a meaning related to “perfume” or “balsam.” Because the etymology is debated and no definitive meaning is established, it is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is uncertain. We should not invent a meaning for the sake of having one.
A Closing Thought
Basmath’s life reminds us that not every faithful person is remembered with a story. She appears once, as a wife and a daughter, and then Scripture moves on. Yet her name is written in the book of God’s word, and she was part of the household of Solomon and of the people of Israel. Many of us will live quiet lives that the world never notices. That is not a failure. God sees the unnoticed, and a single mention in His word is enough to show that she was known to Him.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Kings 4:15 — Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife: