שׁוּחָם
Shucham, an Israelite
Definition
Shucham is a proper name given to an individual in the genealogy of the tribe of Dan, recorded in Numbers 26:42. He is identified as the son of Dan and the founder of the Shuhamite clan, one of the familial divisions within the tribe. The name appears only in this census context, where it serves to list the descendants of Dan following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. No other narrative or historical details about Shucham himself are provided in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper masculine noun in the Old Testament, occurring only once in Numbers 26:42. Its sole context is within the second wilderness census, where it functions to name a clan head within the tribe of Dan. The pattern follows the standard genealogical formula: 'The sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites.'
Etymology
The name Shucham (שׁוּחָם) is derived from the Hebrew root שׁוּחַ (shûach, H7743), which means 'to sink down, bow down, or humbly crouch.' As a proper name, it is likely a passive participle form meaning 'humbled' or 'one who is bowed down.' This suggests a name connoting humility or lowliness, a common theme in Hebrew onomastics.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not central to major doctrines, its inclusion in the sacred genealogy underscores the biblical value of every individual and family within God's covenant people. Recording even a name mentioned only once affirms the meticulous preservation of tribal lineages, which was crucial for identity, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. Understanding that his name means 'humbled' can poetically reflect the condition of the Israelites in the wilderness, dependent on God.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning, describing character, circumstance, or parental hopes. Being listed as a clan founder in an official census established Shucham's lineage as a legitimate and integral part of the tribe of Dan, with rights to a future inheritance in the Promised Land. The census itself was a military and organizational act, counting men able to go to war.
Dan (Dān, H1835) — The tribal patriarch and father of Shucham. Shuhamites (Shuchamîm) — The plural gentilic name for the clan descended from Shucham.
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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