שֶׁלֶף
Sheleph, a son of Jokthan
Definition
Sheleph is a proper noun referring to a descendant of Shem through the line of Joktan, as recorded in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:26 and the parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1:20. He is listed as one of the thirteen sons of Joktan, whose descendants are traditionally associated with the Arabian Peninsula. The name itself, derived from a root meaning 'to draw out' or 'extract,' may suggest a connection to drawing water, mining, or perhaps a lineage being 'drawn out' or extended. As a genealogical entry, the term functions solely as a personal name identifying an ancestral figure within the biblical narrative of human dispersion.
Biblical Usage
The word appears exclusively in two genealogical lists: Genesis 10:26 and 1 Chronicles 1:20. In both contexts, it is used as a proper name identifying Sheleph as a son of Joktan, who was a descendant of Shem. This places Sheleph within the 'Table of Nations' (Genesis 10), a catalog of peoples known to ancient Israel, and its Chronicler's reiteration. There is no narrative usage or variation in meaning; it serves purely as a genealogical marker.
Etymology
The name Sheleph (שֶׁלֶף) is derived from the Hebrew root שָׁלַף (shalaph, H8025), which means 'to draw out,' 'extract,' or 'pull out.' It is related to verbs used for drawing a sword (Judges 3:22) or pulling up tent pegs (Isaiah 33:20). As a proper name, it likely carries the sense of 'extraction' or 'drawn forth,' possibly implying one drawn out from a lineage or, metaphorically, a resource drawn from the earth.
Semantic Range
As a proper name in a genealogical list, Sheleph holds minimal direct theological weight. However, his inclusion in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all peoples and the fulfillment of the creation mandate to 'be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28). Understanding these names reminds readers that Scripture traces God's redemptive plan through specific historical lineages, ultimately leading to Christ (Luke 3:23-38).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, genealogies like the one containing Sheleph were not mere lists but served to establish identity, heritage, territorial claims, and relationships between tribes and nations. The name Sheleph, likely connected to a clan or region in Arabia, would have signaled to the original Israelite audience a specific people group among their neighbors. The Chronicler's later inclusion reaffirms these ancestral connections for a post-exilic community re-establishing its identity.
Joktan (Yoqtan, H3355) — Sheleph's father and head of the Arabian lineage. Shem (Shem, H8035) — The patriarchal ancestor from whom Sheleph's line descends.
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 →