Etymology and Origin Bat-sheva is the Hebrew transliteration of the biblical name Bathsheba, directly from the Hebrew form. Its meaning is tied to the components bat, meaning "daughter," and sheva, from the root shavaʿ meaning "oath." The name thus signifies "daughter of the oath." In English contexts, it appears sometimes as "Bathsheba" or "Batsheva." Biblical Narrative According to the Old Testament (2 Samuel 11–12), Bat-sheva was initially the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a soldier in King David's army. King David saw her bathing, lusted after her, and made her pregnant. To conceal his transgression, David arranged for Uriah to be placed on the front lines of battle, where he was killed. David then married Bat-sheva, but the prophet Nathan rebuked the king, foretelling that tragedy would befall his house. The first child of that union died, but later Bat-sheva gave birth to Solomon, who succeeded David as king. Bat-sheva thus appears in the Genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (1:6), where she is designated "the wife of Uriah." Cultural and Religious Significance In Jewish tradition, Bat-sheva is sometimes viewed ambivalently: while her marriage to David began in sin, she is also honored as the mother of Solomon, the wisest of kings. Rabbinic interpretations often emphasize David's repentance rather than Bat-sheva's active role. In Christianity, she is remembered as an ancestor of Jesus and as a cautionary example of the consequences of adultery. In art and literature, Bat-sheva has been depicted by Renaissance masters such as Rembrandt and Veronese, often focusing on the moment David spies on her bathing—an image that evokes themes of voyeurism, power, and vulnerability. The name Bat-sheva (or Batsheva) is used in modern Israel, partly due to its biblical resonance. Variant Forms Variants include the English Bathsheba, the French Bethsabée, and the Latin Bethsabee, as well as the alternate Hebrew transliteration Batsheva. Meaning: “daughter of the oath” in Hebrew Origin: Hebrew, from biblical roots bat (daughter) and shavaʿ (oath) Usage: Hebrew Bible; modern Israel Associated Figures: King David, King Solomon