שְׁפָם (she.pham)
she.pham
Shepham
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Shepham identifies a specific location situated on the eastern boundary of ancient Israel, within the broader region of northeastern Canaan. According to the supplied lexical data, its meaning is "bald," a descriptor that likely refers to the physical appearance of the terrain, perhaps indicating a treeless or rocky landscape.
Despite its descriptive root, Shepham appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both instances found within the book of Numbers. These references serve to mark geographical boundaries during the Israelites' journey, anchoring the narrative in real-world topography rather than abstract theology.
The word functions primarily as a proper noun for a place rather than a common term with broad semantic range. Its limited occurrence underscores its role as a marker in the historical record of the tribal borders and travel routes described in the Pentateuch.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shepham appears in Numbers as part of the detailed boundaries for the Promised Land. Its meaning, "bald," likely describes a rocky or treeless landscape. This small detail anchors the biblical narrative in real geography, showing that God cares about specific places and their physical reality.
For believers today, these precise borders remind us that God’s promises are grounded in history. The journey of Israel was not abstract but involved real terrain, including difficult or barren areas like Shepham. This encourages us to trust that God guides us through every part of our own journeys, even the less scenic ones.
When we read these ancient maps, we see a God who is both vast and intimate. He defines limits with purpose, ensuring His people have a place to call home. This stability offers comfort, knowing that our spiritual inheritance is secure and clearly marked by His faithful word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Shepham1×
- Shepham/ towards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁפָֽמָ/ה\׃1×
- מִ/שְּׁפָ֛ם1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 34:10
“‘You shall mark out your east border from Hazar Enan to Shepham.
This verse establishes Shepham as the starting point of the eastern border, highlighting its role in defining the extent of the land promised to Israel.
-
Numbers 34:11
The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward.
Here, the border descends from Shepham toward Riblah, showing how this location served as a crucial geographical marker for tracing the territory's southern and eastern limits.