שׁוּחַ (shu.ach)
shu.ach
Shuah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Shuah is a proper name appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32. He was one of the six sons born to Abraham after Sarah’s death, through his wife Keturah. This places him as a half-brother to Isaac and Ishmael, situating him within the broader patriarchal narrative that traces the origins of various Middle Eastern peoples.
The name Shuah is traditionally interpreted to mean "wealth" or "riches." While the text does not elaborate on his personal life or deeds, his inclusion in the genealogies highlights the expansive nature of Abraham’s lineage. His brothers include figures like Midian and Jokshan, whose descendants are often linked to specific tribal groups in the ancient Near East.
Despite the brevity of his mention, Shuah serves as a reminder of the complex family dynamics surrounding the patriarchs. His existence underscores that God’s promises to Abraham extended beyond the single line of Isaac, encompassing a wider network of descendants through Keturah. This detail is preserved in both the ancestral records of Genesis and the chronological summaries of Chronicles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read Genesis 25, the story naturally focuses on Isaac, the child of promise. Yet the text carefully lists Shuah among Abraham’s other sons. This detail shows that God’s care for Abraham was not limited to one family line. The patriarch’s household included many children from different mothers, creating a wide network of relatives.
Shuah appears again in 1 Chronicles 1:32 within a genealogy. These lists often feel dry, but they preserve the identity of real people. Shuah’s name means "wealth," and his inclusion reminds us that God’s blessings extended to many nations through Abraham’s lineage. We see a God who remembers and records every branch of His family tree.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Shuah1×
- Shuah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֽׁוּחַ\׃1×
- וְ/שׁ֑וּחַ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 25:2
She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
This verse places Shuah in the immediate context of Abraham’s later life, showing his status as a son born after Sarah’s death.
-
I Chronicles 1:32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
The chronicler repeats this name to confirm the historical continuity of Abraham’s descendants for post-exilic readers.