שׁוּחָם
𐤔𐤅𐤇𐤌
Shucham
H7748 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name denoting an individual among the descendants of Benjamin, specifically a son of Benjamin and founder of a clan. The form שׁוּחָם (Shuham) refers exclusively to the name of this individual and, by extension, to his descendants (the Shuhamites), rather than conveying a descriptive or adjectival meaning such as 'humble.' Variant spelling occurs in parallel genealogical lists as שֶׁפֻפָם (Shephupham).
Semantic Range
proper name of a person (son of Benjamin); eponymous clan ancestor; no clearly attested common or adjectival usage in the biblical texts
Root / Etymology
The form שׁוּחָם appears to be derived from the root שׁוח, meaning 'to sink down, be low, humble.' However, in the context of this name, a direct etymological connection to this root is uncertain, as the personal name serves primarily as an identifier without apparent descriptive significance in the narrative. The alternate form שֶׁפֻפָם (Shephupham) appears only in 1 Chronicles 8:5 and may represent a phonetic or textual variant.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שׁוּחָם appears in Numbers 26:38-39 as one of the sons of Benjamin, providing the eponymous ancestor for the clan termed 'Shuhamites.' The parallel genealogical passage in Genesis 46:21 records the name as שְׁפוּפָם (Shephupham), suggesting textual and perhaps phonological variation among ancient Israelite traditions. There is no indication in the Hebrew Bible that the name שׁוּחָם carried the lexical meaning of 'humbly' or 'humility' for its bearers; instead, it functions strictly as a proper noun. English usage sometimes renders Shuham's descendants 'Shuhamites,' preserving the underlying function as a clan designation. The later term 'Jew' or 'Jewish' does not apply here, as Shuham/Shuhamites are described as Israelite, specifically Benjaminite, in the early monarchic or pre-monarchic period. The semantic content of this personal name is not clearly recoverable or attested as an adjective or common noun in Biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שׁוּחַ; humbly; Shucham, an Israelite; Shuham.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁוח (š-w-ḥ) — to sink down, bow down, be brought low, be humble
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7748-01 |
לְ/שׁוּחָ֕ם | leshucham | HR/Np |
of Shuham | to Shuham | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7748-01 |
Numbers 26:42 | לְ/שׁוּחָ֕ם | leshucham | HR/Np |
of Shuham | to Shuham |