שׁוּפָמִי
a Shuphamite (collectively) or descendants of Shephupham
Definition
Shuphamite refers to a member of the Shuphamite clan, a family group descended from Shephupham (also called Muppim in Genesis 46:21), who was a son of Benjamin. The term is a collective gentilic noun, identifying someone as belonging to this specific lineage within the tribe of Benjamin. Its sole biblical occurrence is in the context of the second wilderness census recorded in Numbers 26:39, where it lists the Shuphamites among the Benjaminite clans. This usage serves to document the tribal subdivisions of Israel before entering the Promised Land.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:39. It appears exclusively in a genealogical and census context, functioning as a clan name within the tribe of Benjamin. The pattern of usage is strictly administrative, documenting the family groups that constituted the Israelite tribes during the wilderness period.
Etymology
The word שׁוּפָמִי (Shûwphâmîy) is a patronymic noun, derived from the personal name שְׁפוּפָם (Shephupham, H8197), who is identified as a son of Benjamin (Numbers 26:39; 1 Chronicles 8:5). The '-i' suffix in Hebrew typically indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from,' thus forming a gentilic designation meaning 'of/from Shephupham.'
Semantic Range
While the term itself is primarily genealogical, its inclusion in the Numbers 26 census underscores the theological importance of God's faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant concerning multiplication and tribal identity. Recording each clan by name highlights God's intimate knowledge of and care for His people as a structured nation, fulfilling the promise that they would be 'as numerous as the stars' (Genesis 15:5). Understanding this term enriches reading by connecting a list name to the broader narrative of God preserving and organizing His covenant people.
In ancient Israelite culture, clan and tribal identity were foundational to social structure, inheritance rights, and military organization. Being identified as a 'Shuphamite' located an individual within a specific lineage, determining their share in the tribal allotment of land and their role within the community. This contrasts with modern individualistic societies where such detailed genealogical ties are less central to personal identity.
Belaite (Bela'iy, H1106) — A member of another clan within the tribe of Benjamin (Numbers 26:38). Ardite (Ardiy, H716) — A member of the Ard clan, also descended from Benjamin (Numbers 26:40).
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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