שֻׁתַלְחִי (shu.tal.chi)
shu.tal.chi
Shuthelahite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shuthalchi identifies a member of the Shuthalhite clan, a specific family line within the tribe of Ephraim. This term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, serving as a descriptive label in the genealogical records of Numbers 26:35.
Its meaning is derived directly from its root, Shuthelah, which translates to "freshly appointed" or "newly planted." The suffix indicates descent, so the word literally means "descendant of Shuthelah." This individual was the son of Shuthelah and grandson of Ephraim, placing him in the second generation after the tribe’s founding father.
As a technical term in a census list, it highlights the detailed record-keeping of Israel’s tribes during their wilderness journey. The word itself carries no theological weight or moral instruction; its sole purpose is to preserve the identity of this particular branch of Ephraim’s family tree for historical continuity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Genealogies often feel like dry lists of names, yet they reveal a God who values every individual. The term Shuthelahite marks a specific branch within the tribe of Ephraim, tracing back to Shuthelah, son of Ephraim. This name means "freshly appointed" or "newly planted," suggesting a sense of new beginning and divine purpose for this family line.
In Numbers 26:35, this label appears in a census taken during the wilderness journey. Such records were not merely administrative; they preserved the identity of each clan as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land. For believers today, these details remind us that God knows and remembers every part of His people’s history, no matter how small it may seem.
Even in ancient lists, we see a faithful God who keeps track of His children. This word invites us to trust that our own lives, with all their unique stories and roles, are known and valued by Him. It is a quiet assurance that we are part of a larger, enduring plan.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Shuthelahite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שֻּׁ֣תַלְחִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:35
These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
This verse uses the term to identify the family line descending from Shuthelah, distinguishing it from other Ephraimite clans like Becher and Tahan in the census.