Bible Word Study
סוּחַ
Çûwach · Suach, an Israelite
סוּחַ
Suach, an Israelite
Definition
Suach is a proper noun referring to an individual named in the genealogy of the tribe of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7:36. He is listed as a son of Zophah, making him a descendant of Asher. The name appears only in this genealogical context, and no other narrative or historical details about his life are provided in the biblical text. As a genealogical entry, its primary function is to establish lineage and tribal continuity within Israel.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:36, within a list of the descendants of Asher. It functions solely as a personal name in a genealogical record. There are no narrative contexts, patterns of usage, or variations in meaning, as it is a unique identifier for a single individual.
Etymology
The name Suach (סוּחַ) is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to wipe away' or 'to sweep.' This suggests the name could carry a connotation of cleansing or removal. As a proper name, its exact semantic force for the individual is unclear, but it follows the common Hebrew practice of using words with descriptive meanings as personal names.
Semantic Range
While the individual Suach is not theologically prominent, his inclusion in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles underscores the biblical theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises through specific family lines. Genealogies like this one affirm the historical continuity of the tribes of Israel and the meticulous preservation of lineage, which was crucial for tribal identity, land inheritance, and ultimately for the lineage of the Messiah. Understanding that even a single-mention name is part of this divinely recorded tapestry enriches the reading of biblical lists. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. A name like Suach, potentially meaning 'sweeping,' may have reflected circumstances of birth, a parental hope, or an attribute. Being recorded in a tribal genealogy was a mark of identity and belonging, securing one's place in the history and inheritance of the people of Israel. For modern readers, a single name in a list can seem minor, but in its original context, it represented a vital link in the chain of community and covenant.
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]