סֻכִּיִּים (suk.ki)
suk.ki
Sukkiim
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The term Sukkiyim refers to a specific group of people mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible, at 2 Chronicles 12:3. They are identified as warriors who joined the Egyptian army led by King Shishak during his campaign against Judah. The name itself appears to be a gentilic derived from "Sukki," suggesting an ethnic or tribal origin for these soldiers.
Lexical sources often connect the word to the Hebrew root for "booth" or "hut," leading to the descriptive translation "booth dwellers." This etymology implies that the group may have been nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples living in temporary shelters, who were recruited as mercenaries by the Egyptian pharaoh. Their inclusion highlights the diverse composition of Shishak’s forces, which also included Libyans, Nubians, and Ethiopians.
Because this word appears in a single verse, its historical context is tightly bound to that specific military alliance. The mention serves to illustrate the scale and international nature of the threat faced by Rehoboam, emphasizing that the invading army was not solely Egyptian but comprised allied or hired troops from various regions. This rare lexical entry provides a glimpse into the complex political and military landscape of the ancient Near East during the divided monarchy period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Sukkiyim appears in a single verse, describing soldiers from an ethnic group who joined King Shishak’s army against Judah. Their presence alongside Libyans and Ethiopians shows that Rehoboam faced a massive, multinational coalition. This historical detail reminds us that the challenges facing God’s people were often complex and overwhelming.
When we face our own battles, whether personal or spiritual, it is easy to feel outnumbered. Yet the biblical record does not end with the invasion; it shows how God used this crisis to humble King Rehoboam and restore his kingdom. We are not abandoned when circumstances seem too large for us.
Trust in the Lord’s sovereignty over history. He sees the size of your opposition and remains faithful to His promises. Find peace in knowing that no alliance is strong enough to thwart God’s purposes for those who seek Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sukkites1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֻכִּיִּ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 12:3
with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
This verse lists the Sukkiyim as part of Shishak's diverse mercenary forces, highlighting the international scale of the threat against Judah.