bathsheba
Definition
Proper noun A female personal name from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. After King David saw her bathing, he committed adultery with her and orchestrated Uriah's death in battle. David then married Bathsheba. She later became the mother of King Solomon and an influential queen mother.
Usage
This word is used almost exclusively as a proper noun to refer to the specific biblical figure. * In the biblical narrative, Bathsheba is a central figure in a story of power, sin, and repentance. * King David's affair with Bathsheba is considered a major transgression in his life. * The prophet Nathan confronted David about his actions concerning Bathsheba and Uriah.
Advanced Usage
- As a Symbol: In theological and literary analysis, Bathsheba is sometimes discussed as a symbol of the object of illicit desire, a victim of royal power, or a shrewd political figure in the royal court.
- In Art and Culture: The name appears in titles of numerous paintings, musical works, and literary adaptations focusing on the biblical story, such as "Bathsheba at Her Bath."
Variants and Related Words
- Bath-sheba: An alternative hyphenated spelling sometimes found in older texts.
Synonyms
- There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. In context, she might be described as:
- Wife of Uriah
- Wife of David
- Mother of Solomon
Related Phrases and Idioms
- No common idioms or phrasal verbs are derived directly from this proper name. References are typically to the biblical story itself (e.g., "the story of David and Bathsheba").
Noun
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(Old Testament) the wife of Uriah and later the wife of king David; Solomon was her son by David (circa 10th century BC)
