### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Chûwphâm**, represented by `{{H2349}}`, is the name of an Israelite. Its base definition is **protection**. This word appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, where it serves to identify the head of a family line during a census of Israel.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical occurrence of `{{H2349}}` is in a genealogical record. In [[Numbers 26:39]], the text establishes the lineage of a specific clan by stating: "of **Hupham** `{{H2349}}`, the family of the Huphamites `{{H2350}}`." This verse appears within a comprehensive census of the tribes of Israel, highlighting the importance of tracking patriarchal lines. The passage simultaneously lists a parallel family, that of "Shupham `{{H8197}}`, the family of the Shuphamites `{{H7781}}`," underscoring the structured format of these records.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context surrounding this name:
* `{{H2350}}` **Chûwphâmîy** (Huphamites): This is the patronymic term derived directly from `{{H2349}}`, meaning "a Chuphamite or descendant of Chupham." It is used in [[Numbers 26:39]] to name the family that originated from Hupham.
* `{{H8197}}` **Shᵉphûwphâm** (Shupham or Shephuphan): The name of an Israelite who appears in parallel to Hupham in the census [[Numbers 26:39]] and is also mentioned in [[1 Chronicles 8:5]]. His family is similarly recorded, emphasizing the pattern of genealogical accounting.
* `{{H4940}}` **mishpâchâh** (family, kind-red): This word for "family" is the term that links **Hupham** to his descendants. It is a key term for tribal and familial identity, used to describe not only the clans of Israel [[Leviticus 25:10]] but also the "kindreds of the people" who are called to worship God [[Psalms 96:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2349}}` is found not in the name itself but in its role within the biblical narrative of lineage and covenant.
* **Genealogical Integrity:** The mention of **Hupham** and his specific family demonstrates the meticulous care taken to record and preserve the lineage of the Israelite people. This reflects the value placed on identity and inheritance.
* **Covenantal Accounting:** This name is part of a census that counts the members of the covenant community. Being named in this list signifies belonging to the people God identified as his own, the "families of the earth" He had uniquely known [[Amos 3:2]].
* **Familial Identity:** The structure "of **Hupham** `{{H2349}}`, the family `{{H4940}}` of the Huphamites `{{H2350}}`" reinforces the foundational role of the family unit in the structure of Israelite society and its relationship with God.
### Summary
In summary, **Chûwphâm** `{{H2349}}` is a proper name whose significance is tied entirely to its singular context. It functions as a genealogical marker, identifying a patriarch whose descendants, the Huphamites `{{H2350}}`, were counted among the families of Israel. Though a minor detail, its inclusion highlights the biblical themes of precise lineage, covenant identity, and the importance of every family in the nation's history.
TRV