שֻׁתַלְחִי
a Shuthalchite (collectively) or descendants of Shuthelach
Definition
The term Shuthalchîy (שֻׁתַלְחִי) is a patronymic noun meaning 'a Shuthalchite' or 'descendant of Shuthelach.' It refers collectively to a clan or family group within the tribe of Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name identifies this group as the offspring of Shuthelach, a son of Ephraim, and thus it functions primarily as a genealogical and tribal designation. Its sole biblical occurrence is in the context of a census, specifically in Numbers 26:35, where the Shuthalchites are listed among the clans of Ephraim. There are no other distinct meanings or usages of this term in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:35, within the second census of the Israelites taken in the plains of Moab. Its usage is strictly genealogical and demographic, serving to enumerate the clans descended from Ephraim as part of the tribal organization of Israel. The context is a formal listing, with no narrative or descriptive usage elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible.
Etymology
The word is derived patronymically from the proper name Shuthelach (שׁוּתֶלַח, Strong's H7803), who was a son of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:20). The Hebrew suffix -î (ִי) typically indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from,' thus forming a gentilic or family name. The root meaning of the name Shuthelach itself is uncertain but may be related to a plant or growth, as suggested by potential cognates.
Semantic Range
In its original setting, this term reflects the importance of genealogy, tribal identity, and inheritance within ancient Israelite society. Being identified as a Shuthalchite established one's lineage, social standing, and claim to a portion of the tribal territory. The listing in Numbers 26 underscores how Israel understood itself as a nation composed of distinct family units, each with a recorded heritage tied to the promises given to the patriarchs.
Ephrayim (אֶפְרַיִם, H669) — the tribal name to which the Shuthalchite clan belonged.
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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