Συχέμ (Suchem)
Suchem
Shechem
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The proper noun Suchem refers to Shechem, a significant city in ancient Samaria and the son of Hamor. In the New Testament, this indeclinable Greek form appears only once, in Acts 7:16, within Stephen’s speech recounting Israel’s history.
Stephen notes that Jacob was buried in the tomb Abraham bought from the sons of Emmor in Shechem. This reference aligns with the account in Genesis 33:19, where Abraham purchases the plot. The Hebrew name means "shoulder," likely describing the geographical feature of a mountain shoulder or ridge where the city sits.
While many English translations render this as Shechem, some older versions use Sychem. The occurrence highlights the continuity between the patriarchs' actions in Canaan and the early Christian understanding of their shared heritage. Stephen uses this detail to ground his argument in the physical locations of Israel's past.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Shechem was more than just a dot on an ancient map; it was a place where God’s promises began to take root in the land. When Stephen mentions this city in his final speech, he is reminding us that our faith stands on a long line of history. It connects the story of Abraham buying a plot of land with the burial of Jacob, showing that God’s covenant people have always had a physical home.
This detail invites us to see how the Old and New Testaments weave together. The same ground that witnessed the patriarchs’ deaths also becomes part of the early church’s witness. It reminds us that our spiritual heritage is real and tangible, grounded in places and people who trusted God long before we were born.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shechem.1×
- Shechem1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Συχέμ.1×
- Συχὲμ1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:16
and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
This verse links the burial of Jacob to Abraham’s purchase, showing that Stephen views these patriarchal events as a single, continuous act of God's provision in Shechem.