שִׁפְעִי
Shiphi, an Israelite
Definition
Shiphi is a proper name of an Israelite, appearing only once in the Old Testament as the name of an individual within the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:37). As a personal name, it carries the meaning derived from its root, suggesting 'abundant' or 'copious.' In the biblical context, it serves solely to identify a specific person within a historical lineage, with no other narrative or descriptive details provided about his life or actions.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in 1 Chronicles 4:37, within a list of Simeonite leaders and their descendants. It functions strictly as a proper noun identifying an individual in a genealogical record. There are no other occurrences or contextual variations in its usage.
Etymology
The name Shiphi (שִׁפְעִי) is derived from the Hebrew root שֶׁפַע (shepha`, H8228), which means 'abundance,' 'plenty,' or 'copiousness.' It is a gentilic or patronymic form, meaning 'my abundance' or 'belonging to abundance,' indicating a name given with positive connotations of prosperity or plentiful blessing.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and conveyed meaning or hope. A name like Shiphi, related to abundance, may have reflected parental aspirations for the child's prosperity or acknowledged God's provision. Its appearance only in a genealogy highlights the importance of lineage and tribal identity in preserving community history and inheritance rights.
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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