### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Shêlânîy**, represented by `{{H8024}}`, is a patronymic term for the **Shelanites**. It appears **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from Shelah `{{H7956}}`, it specifically identifies the descendants of this individual as a distinct family group within the tribe of Judah.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H8024}}` occurs within a census of the Israelite tribes. In the accounting of the tribe of Judah, the various clans are listed by their progenitor. The text specifies the lineage of one of Judah's sons, stating, "of Shelah `{{H7956}}`, the family `{{H4940}}` of the **Shelanites** `{{H8024}}`" [[Numbers 26:20]]. This usage formally establishes the identity of this family line as part of the larger tribal structure.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide the genealogical framework for **Shêlânîy**:
* `{{H7956}}` **Shêlâh** (request; Shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an Israelite; Shelah): The direct ancestor of the Shelanites. He is identified as a son of Judah [[Genesis 46:12]].
* `{{H4940}}` **mishpâchâh** (a family, i.e. circle of relatives...; by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red)): This term defines the "family" or clan unit to which the Shelanites belonged and is the primary organizational term used in the census [[Numbers 26:20]].
* `{{H3063}}` **Yᵉhûwdâh** (celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah)...; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah): The tribe from which the family of the Shelanites originates [[Numbers 26:20]].
* `{{H6558}}` **Partsîy** (a Partsite (collectively) or descendants of Perets; Pharzites): A parallel term identifying the descendants of Pharez, used in the same verse to denote another clan within Judah [[Numbers 26:20]].
* `{{H2227}}` **Zarchîy** (a Zarchite or descendant of Zerach; Zarchite): A term for the descendants of Zerah, used alongside "Shelanites" and "Pharzites" to catalogue the families of Judah [[Numbers 26:20]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H8024}}` is rooted in its function within biblical genealogy and national identity.
* **Genealogical Identity:** The term is a clear example of how identity in ancient Israel was inextricably linked to ancestry. Being a "Shelanite" defined an individual's specific place within the tribe of Judah and, by extension, the nation of Israel.
* **Clan Structure:** Its use in the census of Numbers highlights the importance of the family `{{H4940}}` as the fundamental unit of the nation. The formal enumeration of clans like the Shelanites was essential for matters of inheritance and social organization.
* **Record of Posterity:** The specific naming of the Shelanites serves as an official record of the descendants of Judah's sons, confirming the lineages recorded in earlier narratives [[Genesis 46:12]] and demonstrating the continuity of the people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8024}}` is a precise genealogical label for the descendants of Shelah. Though it appears only once, **Shêlânîy** offers a distinct example of the patronymic system used to define kinship and tribal structure in the Old Testament. Its context in [[Numbers 26:20]] underscores the biblical emphasis on lineage and the meticulous recording of the families that constituted the nation of Israel.
TRV