Bethsabee

Bethsabee is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Bathsheba, appearing in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. The original Hebrew נִי.שֵׁבַע (Bat-sheva), meaning "daughter of the oath," derives from baṯ (daughter) and shavaʿ (oath).

Etymology and Biblical Context

In the Old Testament, Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a soldier in King David's army. David saw her bathing, desired her, and after she became pregnant, he arranged Uriah's death in battle. David then married her, and she became the mother of Solomon (2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 1–2). The name Bethsabee thus carries heavy associations with beauty, seduction, and repentance, as David was later condemned by the prophet Nathan for his sin.

Usage and Cultural Influence

The Latin form Bethsabee occurs primarily in late antique and medieval Vulgate manuscripts, reflecting the pronunciation of Greek Βηθσαβεέ (Bēthsabee) used in the Septuagint. While not commonly given as a personal name in modern times (unlike the Hebrew or English equivalents), Bethsabee has appeared occasionally as a liturgical name or in artistic and literary references. Pierre Benoît's 1938 novel Bethsabée and the subsequent 1947 French film adaptation Bethsabée directed by Léonide Moguy (released in English as The Deserter) directly reference the biblical story, setting a dramatic romance in French Morocco that echoes the original's themes of adultery and consequence.

Related Forms

Cognates appear across many languages: Bathsheba (English), Bethsabée (French), Bat-sheva (Biblical Hebrew), and Batsheva (Modern Hebrew).

• Meaning: “Daughter of the oath”
• Origin: Hebrew, via Latin Vulgate
• Type: Biblical given name
• Usage regions: Latin Christianity, historical; occasional European usage