גּוּנִי
a Gunite (collectively with article prefix) or descendants of Guni
Definition
Gûwnîy refers to the descendants of Guni, a son of Naphtali, and is used as a collective term for his clan. In the Bible, it specifically denotes the 'Gunites,' a family group within the tribe of Naphtali. This term appears only in the context of the second census of Israel, recorded in Numbers 26:48, where it lists the clans of Naphtali. There are no other biblical senses or variant meanings for this word; it functions solely as a patronymic identifier for this family line.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:48, within a genealogical and census list. Its usage is purely administrative and tribal, identifying one of the clan families ('mishpachah') descended from Naphtali's son Guni. It follows the standard biblical pattern for patronymic names ending in '-i' (like 'Ephraimite'), denoting 'belonging to' or 'descended from.'
Etymology
The word גּוּנִי (Gûwnîy) is formed patronymically from the proper name גּוּנִי (Gûnî, H1476), meaning 'my protection' or 'my covering.' The '-i' suffix is a standard Hebrew grammatical ending used to indicate descent or belonging, turning a personal name into a gentilic (e.g., 'Israel' becomes 'Israelite'). Thus, Gûwnîy literally means 'belonging to Guni' or 'descendants of Guni.'
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 lineage determined their inheritance, social standing, and military obligations. Being identified as a 'Gunite' placed an individual within the broader tribe of Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, connecting them to specific territorial claims and communal history. This differs from modern individualistic identity, as identity was deeply collective and tied to ancestry.
Naphtali (Naphtali, H5321) — The broader tribe to which the Gunites belonged. Guni (Gûnî, H1476) — The personal name of the patriarch from whom the Gunites descend.
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.
Full methodology & sources →