Bible Word Study
חֻפִּים
Chuppîym · Chuppim, an Israelite
חֻפִּים
Chuppim, an Israelite
Definition
Chuppim is a proper name referring to an Israelite man, a descendant of Benjamin. He is listed as a son of Benjamin in Genesis 46:21 and as a son of Ir (or Iri) in the genealogy of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 7:12. In 1 Chronicles 7:15, the name appears again, though some textual traditions suggest this may refer to the same individual or a closely related family member within the tribe. The name is consistently used in genealogical contexts to trace the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin.
Biblical Usage
The name Chuppim is used exclusively in Old Testament genealogical lists. It appears three times: in the list of Jacob's descendants who went to Egypt (Genesis 46:21), and twice in the Chronicler's detailed genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:12, 15). Its usage is purely for familial and tribal identification, with no narrative or descriptive context provided beyond these lists.
Etymology
The name Chuppim (חֻפִּים) is the plural form of the Hebrew word 'chuppah' (H2646), which means 'canopy' or 'covering,' often associated with a marriage chamber. It is also compared to the name Hupham (H2349), which may be a variant spelling. The plural form likely signifies 'protected ones' or 'those of the canopy,' possibly implying a blessing of shelter or marital prosperity.
Semantic Range
While the name Chuppim itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in the genealogies of Genesis and 1 Chronicles underscores the biblical theme of God's faithfulness to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs. Recording these names affirms the continuity and identity of the tribe of Benjamin, from whom key figures like King Saul and the apostle Paul would descend. It reminds readers that God works through specific families and historical lineages to accomplish His redemptive plan. In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning related to circumstances, hopes, or attributes. A name derived from 'chuppah' (marriage canopy) might reflect a family's desire for blessing, protection, or the establishment of a household. Genealogies were vital for establishing tribal identity, inheritance rights, and priestly lineage, making the precise recording of names like Chuppim culturally significant for maintaining social and religious order. Hupham (Chûphâm, H2349) — A variant spelling or closely related name in the Benjaminite genealogy (Numbers 26:39).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]