Who was Zurishaddai in the Bible?

Zurishaddai was the father of Shelumiel, who served as the leader of the tribe of Simeon during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt. He is mentioned only in genealogical and census lists (Numbers 1:6, 2:12).

What is the significance of Zurishaddai?

His significance lies entirely in his son, Shelumiel, who represented the tribe of Simeon. As the father of a tribal leader, Zurishaddai's name is preserved in Israel's official records, highlighting the importance of lineage and tribal structure in the Old Testament (Numbers 7:36, 10:19).

What does the name Zurishaddai mean?

The name Zurishaddai is Hebrew and likely means 'my rock is the Almighty' or 'the Almighty is my rock.' This reflects a common practice of using names that acknowledge God's strength and protection, similar to other names ending in '-shaddai' (e.g., El Shaddai).

Zurishaddai

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeaderFather

Zurishaddai was the father of Shelumiel, a leader of the tribe of Simeon during the wilderness wanderings.

Zurishaddai

Biography

Zurishaddai was an Israelite from the tribe of Simeon who lived during the wilderness period following the Exodus from Egypt. He is known in Scripture as the father of Shelumiel, who served as the appointed prince of the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 1:6; 2:12; 7:36, 41; 10:19). Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai participated in the great census of Israel at Sinai, led the Simeonite contingent in the march through the wilderness, and offered the third tribal dedication offering at the consecration of the tabernacle. Zurishaddai's name is a theophoric compound meaning "the Almighty is my rock", a declaration of confidence in El Shaddai, the God who had revealed himself to the patriarchs and now led Israel through the desert.

Significance

Zurishaddai's name is among the most theologically expressive in the wilderness narrative. The declaration that "the Almighty is my rock" (combining Shaddai and zur) represents a confession of faith rooted in the patriarchal tradition, El Shaddai was the name by which God had covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 6:3). That Zurishaddai bore this name and raised a son who led one of Israel's twelve tribes suggests a family steeped in covenant memory and trust. His legacy, carried forward through Shelumiel's tribal leadership, illustrates how the faith of a parent can shape the capacity of a child to serve God's people. In Zurishaddai, ordinary Israelite piety becomes the foundation of communal leadership.

Authority Records

Wikidata

ChildShelumiel

Verse Appearances (5)

Numbers

Numbers 1:6 Numbers 2:12 Numbers 7:36 Numbers 7:41 Numbers 10:19

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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