Bashemath is an English Bible variant of the name Basemath. Both forms derive from the Hebrew name בָּשְׂמַת (Basmat), meaning "fragrance" or "sweet-smelling." In the Old Testament, Bashemath (or Basemath) is the name of two different wives of Esau, the elder twin of Jacob. Biblical Accounts According to the Book of Genesis, Chapter 26, Esau's first wife, Basemath, was the daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis 26:34–35). Her marriage to Esau displeased his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, because the Hittites were Canaanites, and God had instructed Abraham's descendants not to intermarry with the Canaanites (see Ibn Ezra on Genesis 26:34). In the later account of Genesis 28, in grief over Esau's marriages, Rebekah urges Isaac to send Jacob away to find a wife from among their own people. A second mention of a wife named Basemath appears in Genesis 36:2–3, though in this passage the names differ: Esau's wives are listed as Adah, Aholibamah, and Ishmael's daughter Mahalath. Some scholars suggest that these passages may reflect different textual traditions, but the name Bashemath consistently refers to a wife of Esau of Hittite origin. Etymological Context The Hebrew root besem (בֶּשֶׂם) means "spice" or "perfume," as seen in the related boshem element. The name is grammatically a feminine singular noun, and its spelling in English has several variants: Bashemath, Basemath, and Basmath. Meaning: "fragrance" or "sweet-smelling" Origin: Hebrew (Biblical) Type: First name Usage: English Bibles Mentioned in: Genesis 26:34 and linked chapters