שׁוּחִי (shu.chi)
shu.chi
Shuhite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term shuḥî identifies a person from Shuah, functioning as an ethnic descriptor rather than a common noun. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears exclusively in the Book of Job to characterize Bildad, one of the three friends who visit Job after his suffering begins.
Its usage is highly specific, appearing only five times across the entire canon. Each occurrence serves to locate Bildad geographically and genealogically, linking him to the Shuhites mentioned earlier in Genesis as descendants of Keturah. This single adjective provides the only biblical clue regarding his tribal or regional background.
Translators typically render it as "Shuhite" or "from Shuah," preserving the proper name without attempting to define a broader meaning. The word carries no theological weight beyond identification; it simply anchors Bildad’s identity within the narrative framework of ancient Near Eastern kinship groups.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shuḥî appears only in the Book of Job to identify Bildad as a Shuhite. This brief label anchors his identity within a specific family line, tracing back to Keturah in Genesis. In the narrative, it serves as a simple marker of origin rather than a theological statement.
When we read these verses, we see friends coming together to support someone in deep pain. The text uses this ethnic tag to place Bildad firmly within the story’s social fabric. It reminds us that comfort often comes through community and shared history, even when words fail.
This small detail invites us to consider how our own backgrounds shape our relationships. Whether we come from distant lands or nearby towns, our connections matter. The text shows us that presence itself is a gift, regardless of where we stand.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Shuhite5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שּׁוּחִ֗י2×
- הַ/שֻּׁחִ֗י2×
- הַ/שּׁוּחִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.
This verse introduces Bildad’s title alongside his friends as they arrive to comfort Job, establishing the ethnic descriptor at the start of their ministry.
-
Job 8:1
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Here the label precedes Bildad’s first speech, marking the transition from silent mourning to verbal counsel in the dialogue.
-
Job 42:9
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.
The term reappears at the story’s end when Job’s friends obey God, showing that their identity remains consistent even after repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the word shuḥî mean?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Why is Bildad called a Shuhite?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 1 books)
Job 5 verses
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz…
Job 8:1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Job 18:1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Job 25:1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what Yahweh commanded them, and…