שְׁפוּפָם (she.phu.pham)
she.phu.pham
Shephupham; Shephuphan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Shephupham is a proper noun referring to an individual from the tribe of Benjamin, recorded in the genealogies of Israel’s early history. He appears first as one of the sons of Bela in Genesis 46:21, accompanying his family into Egypt. The name is also found in Numbers 26:39 and 1 Chronicles 8:5, where it sometimes appears with slight variations such as Shephuphan or Shupham.
Lexical sources identify this figure as the son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin, placing him within the second generation of Israelites born in Egypt. The name itself is interpreted to mean "serpent," a detail that adds a specific cultural or linguistic layer to his identity. While he does not play an active narrative role in the biblical text, his inclusion in these lists underscores the importance of lineage and tribal continuity in the Old Testament record.
Translators generally render the name phonetically as Shephupham or Shupham, preserving its distinct sound across different books. The variation in spelling between Numbers and Chronicles reflects common scribal practices of the time rather than a change in identity. This word serves primarily as a marker of heritage, connecting later generations of Benjamin to their ancestral roots during the wilderness period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names in Scripture often carry weight beyond simple identification. Shephupham appears in the genealogies of Benjamin, marking his place as a son of Bela. His name, interpreted to mean 'serpent,' stands as a unique identifier within the lineage that would later produce King Saul and the Apostle Paul.
These lists remind us that God keeps careful account of every person. Even those without dramatic stories in the narrative are part of a larger, unfolding plan. The continuity of these families shows how God preserves His people through generations, ensuring no one is forgotten in His record.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of/ Shupham1×
- and/ Shephuphan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/שְׁפוּפָ֕ם1×
- וּ/שְׁפוּפָ֖ן1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:39
of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
This verse establishes the tribal family structure by naming Shephupham as the ancestor of the Shuphamites, showing how individual names became clan identities.
-
I Chronicles 8:5
Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
The Chronicler includes Shephuphan in the list of Benjamin's sons, confirming the continuity of this lineage during the post-exilic period.