שִׁלְחִי (shil.chi)
shil.chi
Shilhi
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shilhi appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in genealogical records concerning the Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 22:42; 2 Chronicles 20:31). It identifies him as the father of Azubah, who was the mother of King Jehoshaphat. Because he is mentioned solely to establish this family line, little narrative detail survives about his personal life or character.
Etymologically, the name likely derives from a root meaning "to send" or "to dispatch," with some scholars suggesting a meaning like "sent one" or "armed." In the context of ancient Israelite naming conventions, such names often reflected hopes for divine protection or mission. However, as a historical figure, Shilhi serves primarily as a link in the royal ancestry that connects Jehoshaphat to his maternal lineage.
His brief mention underscores the biblical emphasis on genealogy. By recording Shilhi’s name, the text preserves the identity of Jehoshaphat’s mother, Azubah, and situates the king within a specific familial context. For readers, this small detail highlights how ordinary individuals were remembered in Scripture not for their own deeds, but for their role in the broader history of God’s people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shilhi appears only twice in Scripture, tucked away in the genealogical records of King Jehoshaphat. He is identified simply as the father of Azubah, who became the mother of a king known for seeking God. This brief mention reminds us that family lines are not just lists of names, but vital threads in the story of faith.
Even when we do not know much about a person’s life, their role in preserving lineage matters. Shilhi’s name ensures that Azubah is remembered, and through her, Jehoshaphat’s heritage is clear. This shows how God values every individual in His plan, even those whose stories are told in just a few words.
For you, this can be a comfort. Your life, your family history, and your faithfulness contribute to a larger story that God is writing. You are part of a lineage of believers, connected to others across time. Trust that your place in God’s people is significant, even if it seems small or quiet.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shilhi2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁלְחִֽי\׃2×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 22:42
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
This verse establishes Shilhi as the father of Azubah, linking him directly to the maternal lineage of King Jehoshaphat.
-
II Chronicles 20:31
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
The parallel account in Chronicles reinforces the importance of this family connection for understanding Jehoshaphat’s background.