צוּרִישַׁדַּי
Tsurishaddai, an Israelite
Definition
Tsurishaddai is a proper name meaning 'Rock of the Almighty' or 'My Rock is Shaddai.' It belongs to the father of Shelumiel, who was the leader of the tribe of Simeon during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 1:6). As a compound name, it uniquely combines two powerful divine titles—'Rock' (Tsûr) and 'Almighty' (Shaddai)—into a personal identifier. The name appears exclusively in the book of Numbers, always in the context of tribal leadership and organization for the census, encampment, and offerings.
Biblical Usage
The name Tsurishaddai is used five times, all within the book of Numbers. It appears in administrative and religious contexts detailing the organization of the Israelite tribes. Specifically, it identifies the father of Shelumiel in the census of fighting men (Numbers 1:6), in the arrangement of the tribal camps (Numbers 2:12), and in the record of offerings brought by the tribal leaders at the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:36, 7:41). It is also listed in the order of march (Numbers 10:19). Its usage is formulaic, consistently appearing as 'Shelumiel son of Tsurishaddai' in official registers.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: צוּר (tsûr, H6697), meaning 'rock' or 'cliff,' often used as a metaphor for God as a strong refuge, and שַׁדַּי (shadday, H7706), a name for God meaning 'Almighty.' The 'i' vowel in the middle is a possessive construct, yielding the meaning 'Rock of (the) Almighty' or 'My Rock is the Almighty.' This follows a common Hebrew pattern for theophoric names, where a divine title or name is incorporated to express faith or a characteristic of God.
Semantic Range
While a personal name, Tsurishaddai is theologically significant because it is a living confession of faith. It combines two major titles for God—'Rock,' emphasizing stability, protection, and permanence (Deuteronomy 32:4), and 'Almighty' (Shaddai), highlighting supreme power and covenant faithfulness (Genesis 17:1). Bearing this name in the wilderness generation served as a constant reminder that Israel's security and leadership were founded upon the unchanging strength and sovereign power of God, not human ability.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive and carried meaning about character, circumstances, or parental hopes. A theophoric name like Tsurishaddai explicitly invoked God's protection and power, which would have been especially poignant for a leader during the vulnerable period of wilderness wandering. It functioned as a public declaration of identity and reliance on God. Unlike modern names, which are often chosen for sound over meaning, this name's semantic content was primary and recognized by the community.
Eliab (ʼEliʼab, H446) — Another theophoric name ('My God is Father') of a contemporary tribal leader (of Judah), but using a different divine title (El). Pedahzur (Pedahtsûr, H6301) — A similar compound name ('The Rock has redeemed') of another tribal leader's father, also incorporating 'Rock' (tsûr) as a divine metaphor.
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.
Full methodology & sources →