Who was Muppim in the Bible?

Muppim was a son of Benjamin, making him a grandson of Jacob and a founder of one of the tribes of Israel. He is listed in the genealogical records of Genesis 46:21, Numbers 26:39, and 1 Chronicles 8:5.

What is the significance of Muppim in the Bible?

Muppim's significance lies in his role as a tribal patriarch. His descendants, known as the Shuphamites, were counted among the clans of the tribe of Benjamin during the census in the wilderness (Numbers 26:39).

What key events was Muppim involved in?

The Bible does not record specific life events for Muppim. His mention is purely genealogical, connecting him to the migration of Jacob's family to Egypt (Genesis 46) and the later organization of the Israelite tribes (Numbers, 1 Chronicles).

Muppim

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Muppim, also known as Shephupham, Shephuphan, or Shuphamite, was a son of Benjamin mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis, Numbers, and 1 Chronicles.

Muppim

Biography

Muppim was a son of Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son by Rachel, listed among those who traveled with Jacob's family to Egypt during the great famine (Genesis 46:21). His name appears in variant forms across different biblical texts: as Shephupham in the census of Numbers 26:39, as Shephuphan in 1 Chronicles 8:5, and as the ancestor of the Shuphamite clan. These textual variations likely reflect the evolution of the name across centuries of oral and written transmission, or possibly the use of alternate names common in ancient Near Eastern culture. As one of Benjamin's sons, Muppim was among the seventy souls of Jacob's household who settled in the land of Goshen under Joseph's patronage, establishing one of the clans that would later form the tribe of Benjamin.

Significance

Muppim and the Shuphamite clan he founded represent the organic growth of God's covenant family from a small household into a great nation, fulfilling the patriarchal promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 46:3). The variant spellings of his name across different biblical books provide scholars with valuable insights into the transmission history of the Hebrew text and the development of Israel's tribal genealogies. More theologically, Muppim's inclusion among those who entered Egypt reminds readers that God's providential care during the famine preserved every branch of Jacob's family, ensuring the complete tribal structure from which the nation of Israel would emerge.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherBenjamin