Bible Word Study
שֻׁפִּים
Shuppîym · Shuppim, an Israelite
שֻׁפִּים
Shuppim, an Israelite
Definition
Shuppim is the name of an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles. He is listed as a son of Ir (or Iri) in 1 Chronicles 7:12 and as a son of Bela in 1 Chronicles 7:15, which may indicate different family lines or a scribal variation. In 1 Chronicles 26:16, a man named Shuppim is also listed among the temple gatekeepers, though it is unclear if this is the same individual or a different person with the same name.
Biblical Usage
The name Shuppim appears exclusively in the genealogical and administrative lists of 1 Chronicles. It is used three times: twice in the Benjaminite genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:12, 7:15) and once in the roster of Levitical gatekeepers for the temple (1 Chronicles 26:16). Its usage is strictly as a personal name within these official records, with no narrative context provided.
Etymology
The name Shuppim is derived from an unused Hebrew noun, and is the plural form related to the word 'shĕphîyphôn' (H8207), meaning 'a horned serpent' or 'adder.' Thus, the name's etymological meaning is 'serpents.' It may have been descriptive or symbolic, though its specific application as a personal name is unclear.
Semantic Range
As a personal name with limited narrative context, Shuppim does not carry direct theological significance. Its value lies in demonstrating the meticulous preservation of tribal lineages and temple roles in Chronicles, affirming God's faithfulness to the covenant community through its detailed historical records. In ancient Israel, names often carried meanings related to animals, traits, or hopes. A name meaning 'serpents' might have been intended apotropaically (to ward off evil), symbolized cunning or protection, or simply reflected a familial or tribal identifier. The duplication of the name in different lists highlights the importance of genealogical records for establishing identity, inheritance, and priestly service.
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]