שׁוּנִי
𐤔𐤅𐤍𐤉
Shuni
H7765 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A member or descendant of Shuni; used specifically as an ethnonymic designation for individuals belonging to the clan or family-group descended from Shuni, listed as the third son of Gad in genealogical records. The term identifies an individual by affiliation with this ancestral line within the tribal structure of the Israelites.
Semantic Range
descendant of Shuni, member of the Shuni clan, Shunite (Israelite clan-identity)
Root / Etymology
Patronymic formation from the personal name שׁוּנִי (Shuni), who is listed as a son of Gad (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15). The word is formed by adding the suffix -ִי (-i) to the ancestor's name to indicate membership or descent, a common pattern for Israelite clan names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שׁוּנִי appears in the Hebrew Bible solely as a genealogical and tribal designation, specifically within census or tribal list passages (notably Numbers 26:15) relating to the Israelite period in the wilderness. It does not appear as a geographical or ethnic designation outside this genealogical context. Unlike other tribal or sub-tribal names, it does not have non-biblical occurrences or recorded shifts of meaning in later periods. In English translations, the term 'Shunite' is an adaptation following patterns for other Israelite clan or tribal names (e.g., Reubenite), but this English form does not carry broader implications beyond the biblical usage. The name is not related to 'Shunammite' (from Shunem), a separate term referring to a geographic origin. As is typical for Israelite genealogical terms, שׁוּנִי reflects clan identity—likely including extended family and those associated with the lineage of Shuni. The term has no specific religious or geographic significance beyond this context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patronymic from שׁוּנִי; a Shunite (collectively) or descendants of Shuni; Shunites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁונ (š-w-n) — to be tranquil, quiet, to rest
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7765-01 |
הַ/שּׁוּנִֽי | hashuni | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Shunites | the Shunite clansman | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7765-01 |
Numbers 26:15 | הַ/שּׁוּנִֽי | hashuni | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Shunites | the Shunite clansman |