שִׁלֵּמִי (shil.le.mi)
shil.le.mi
Shillemite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term shillemi denotes a descendant of Shillem, one of the sons of Naphtali. It functions as a gentilic noun, identifying members of this specific family line within the larger tribe. The word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 26:49, where it lists the clans of Israel during the census in the wilderness.
Its root connects to Shillem (H8006), a name meaning "recompense" or "peace." This individual is also known as Shallum in 1 Chronicles 7:13, showing how names and clan identifiers shifted slightly across different biblical books. The shillemites represent just one small branch of Naphtali’s offspring, recorded to preserve the genealogical structure of the tribes.
Because it occurs so rarely, the word carries no independent theological weight. Instead, it serves as a historical marker, anchoring the reader in the detailed records of Israel’s family groups. It reminds us that the nation was built from many distinct lines, each with its own identity and place in the story.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shillemite appears just once in Scripture, marking a small branch of the tribe of Naphtali. This brief mention in Numbers 26:49 is part of a census taken in the wilderness. It reminds us that God knows each family line by name. Even the smallest groups are recorded with care.
While this word does not carry heavy theological weight, it shows how God values every individual and clan. The nation of Israel was built from many distinct lines, each holding its own place in the story. This detail invites us to see ourselves as part of a larger, diverse community where everyone belongs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Shillemite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שִּׁלֵּמִֽי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:49
of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
This verse lists the Shillemites as one of the specific family groups within Naphtali during the wilderness census.