חוּפָמִי
a Chuphamite or descendant of Chupham
Definition
חוּפָמִי (Chûwphâmîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'a descendant of Chupham' or 'belonging to the clan of Chupham.' It specifically identifies a member of the Huphamite family, one of the clans within the tribe of Benjamin. This term is used exclusively in the context of the second wilderness census recorded in the book of Numbers, where it serves to list and organize the Israelite tribes by their familial subdivisions. The word appears only in Numbers 26:39, where it denotes the clan descended from Chupham (or Hupham), the son of Benjamin.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Numbers 26:39. Its usage is strictly genealogical and administrative, appearing in the list of Benjamin's descendants during the census of the new generation of Israelites taken on the plains of Moab. This census was conducted to organize the people for the coming conquest and allocation of the Promised Land. No other patterns or contextual variations exist, as it is a single-occurrence, technical term for clan identification.
Etymology
The word חוּפָמִי is formed patronymically by adding the suffix '-î' (meaning 'belonging to' or 'descendant of') to the proper name חוּפָם (Chûwphâm, H2349). Its meaning is entirely derived from this relationship, indicating lineage or clan affiliation. The root meaning of the name Chupham itself is uncertain, though some suggest a possible connection to words for 'covered' or 'protected,' but this is speculative. The word's function and meaning are purely relational.
Semantic Range
In its original setting, this term functioned as a crucial marker of tribal and clan identity within ancient Israelite society. A person's clan name determined their inheritance rights, military obligations, and social standing within the tribe of Benjamin. The recording of such names in the census (Numbers 26) underscores the importance of maintaining detailed genealogical records to preserve each family's claim to the land promised by God, which was a core aspect of the covenant. This cultural practice of meticulous lineage documentation is different from modern understandings of family names.
בֶּן־ (ben, H1121) — A more general term for 'son of' or 'descendant of,' whereas חוּפָמִי is a specific, frozen patronymic form. מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah, H4940) — Refers to the broader 'family' or 'clan' unit, of which the Huphamites were one specific instance.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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