שִׁפְטָן
𐤔𐤐𐤈𐤍
Shifetan
H8204 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, masculine: Shiphtan. Refers to a personal name borne by an Israelite individual mentioned in tribal genealogies. The meaning of the name is likely derived from the concept of judgment or ruling, but its use is as a personal name, not as an occupational term or title.
Semantic Range
proper name (male), Shiphtan (an Israelite); implicit meaning tied to judgment or governance, but as a personal name rather than a descriptive term
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁפַט (shafat), meaning 'to judge, to govern, to decide.' The form שִׁפְטָן (Shiphṭân) is most plausibly a theophoric or wish/quality name based on the root, possibly meaning 'judgment' or 'he is judge-like,' but specific nuance is uncertain; standard in biblical Hebrew onomastics.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shiphtan is mentioned in Numbers 34:24 as the father of Kemuel, a representative of the tribe of Ephraim tasked with apportioning the land of Canaan. The context is genealogical and administrative. The name reflects a common practice of the period: forming personal names from roots denoting prominent societal functions (such as judging). In this context, Shiphṭân does not serve as a title or a direct description of occupation, but rather as a proper name whose etymological meaning remains latent. English translations consistently retain the Hebrew name and do not translate it, reflecting proper onomastic practice. The root שָׁפַט is productive in Hebrew to denote judgment, ruling, or governance, but in this instance, the word clearly functions only as a personal name within a genealogical listing, with no evidence for cultic, occupational, or later Judean reinterpretation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁפַט; judge-like; Shiphtan, an Israelite; Shiphtan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפט (sh-p-ṭ) — judge, govern, decide
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3092 | יְהוֹשָׁפָט | to YHWH-has-judged |
| H478 | אֱלִישָׁפָט | El has judged |
| H4941 | מִשְׁפָּט | according to your ruling |
| H8196 | שְׁפוֹט | Pronounce judgment! |
| H8199 | שָׁפַט | in his being judged |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8204-01 |
שִׁפְטָֽן | shifetan | HNp |
of Shiphtan | Shiphtan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8204-01 |
Numbers 34:24 | שִׁפְטָֽן | shifetan | HNp |
of Shiphtan | Shiphtan |