שִׁכְמִי

a Shikmite (collectively), or descendants of Shekem

Definition

The Hebrew word שִׁכְמִי (Shikmîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'a Shikmite' or 'belonging to Shechem.' It refers collectively to the descendants or clan of Shechem, the son of Gilead, who was himself a descendant of the tribe of Manasseh. This term identifies a specific family group within the larger tribal structure of Israel. Its sole biblical occurrence is in the context of a census, listing the Shikmites as one of the clans of the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 26:31).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:31, within the second census of the Israelites taken in the plains of Moab. It functions as a clan name in a genealogical list, specifying a subdivision of the tribe of Manasseh through the line of Gilead. There are no other contextual uses or patterns, as it appears strictly as a proper noun for familial identification in a census record.

Etymology

The word is a patronymic derivation from the proper name שֶׁכֶם (Shekem, H7928), meaning 'shoulder' or 'ridge.' The '-îy' suffix indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from.' Thus, שִׁכְמִי literally means 'of Shechem' or 'pertaining to Shechem.' The root name Shechem is also the name of a significant Canaanite city (e.g., Genesis 33:18).

Semantic Range

In its original setting, this term reflects the importance of genealogy and tribal identity within ancient Israelite society. Being identified as a Shikmite located an individual within the social and inheritance structures of the tribe of Manasseh. The naming of clans after ancestors (like Shechem, son of Gilead) helped preserve family lineage and rights to tribal land allotments, as detailed in passages like Numbers 26 and Joshua 17.

שֶׁכֶם (Shekem, H7928) — The personal or place name from which the clan name is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References