גּוּנִי (gu.ni)
gu.ni
Guni
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Guni identifies two distinct figures in the Hebrew Bible, both appearing in genealogical records that trace the lineage of Israel’s tribes. The first is a son of Naphtali, mentioned in Genesis 46:24 alongside his brothers Jahzeel, Jezer, and Shillem as part of the family that moved to Egypt. This Guni is considered the founder of the Gunite clan, linking his identity directly to the tribe of Naphtali.
A second man named Guni appears much later in 1 Chronicles 5:15 as a descendant of Gad and father of Abdiel. While the name itself may carry the meaning "my defender," the text uses it primarily to establish tribal continuity rather than to describe personal character. These brief mentions serve to anchor the historical narrative, ensuring that each family line within Israel is accounted for in the biblical record.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names in Scripture often serve as anchors for history, connecting us to a lineage that stretches back centuries. The name Guni appears in the genealogies of Naphtali and Gad, marking specific families within the tribes of Israel. These records were not merely administrative lists; they affirmed identity and belonging for people living far from their ancestors.
For believers today, these names remind us that God knows each person by name and values every family line. When you read about Guni or his descendants, it highlights the care God took to preserve the history of His people. This continuity assures us that we are part of a larger story, grounded in faithfulness across generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Guni2×
- of/ Guni1×
- Guni1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/גוּנִ֕י1×
- וְ/גוּנִ֛י1×
- וְ/גוּנִ֖י1×
- גּוּנִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:24
The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
This verse places Guni among the sons of Naphtali who moved to Egypt, establishing his role as a key ancestor in the family's survival and migration.
-
Numbers 26:48
The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;
Here the text explicitly names the 'family of the Gunites,' showing how Guni’s lineage became a distinct clan within the tribe of Naphtali during the census.
-
I Chronicles 5:15
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers’ houses.
This later record identifies Guni as an ancestor in the tribe of Gad, demonstrating that the name appears in different tribal lines to show broader genealogical continuity.