שַׁעַלְבֹנִי (sha.al.vo.ni)
sha.al.vo.ni
Shaalbonite
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The word shaalboni is a gentilic adjective meaning “Shaalbonite,” referring to an inhabitant of Shaalbim. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times as part of proper names listing David’s mighty warriors in 2 Samuel 23:31 and 1 Chronicles 11:33.
Its meaning is derived directly from the place name Shaalbim (H8169), which translates to “place of foxes” or “place of jackals.” The suffix -i marks the person as belonging to that location. Because the term is so rare, it offers little insight into daily life beyond geographic origin.
The word highlights how ancient Israelite society identified individuals by their hometowns. Including Shaalboni in the lists of David’s elite soldiers shows that these warriors came from diverse regions across Israel, not just the central tribal areas. The name itself preserves a memory of a small settlement known for its wild animals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shaalboni identifies a warrior from a small town known for foxes or jackals. In ancient Israel, your hometown defined you as much as your skills did. This word reminds us that God’s people came from every corner of the land, not just the main cities.
When we look at David’s mighty men, we see ordinary places producing extraordinary loyalty. Shaalboni was not a famous general but a faithful soldier. His story shows that God values commitment and courage regardless of where you come from or how small your background seems.
Your own origins do not limit your role in God’s plan. Whether you feel overlooked or distant from the center, your faithfulness matters. God uses people from every village and city to build His community. You are part of that diverse and beloved family.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Shaalbonite2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שַּׁעַלְבֹנִֽי\׃\ \ס1×
- הַ/שַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 23:32
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
This verse lists Eliahba the Shaalbonite among David’s elite warriors, showing that men from small settlements like Shaalbim were trusted with the king’s security.
-
I Chronicles 11:33
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
Chronicles repeats this title to confirm Eliahba’s identity, emphasizing that geographic origin was a key part of how these loyal soldiers were remembered in Israel’s history.