English · KJV
H8174

שַׁעַף

Shaʻaph /shah'-af/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom סָעַף
Meaningfluctuation; Shaaph, the name of two Israelites
KJV usageShaaph.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Shaʻaph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word Shaʻaph, represented by H8174, is a personal name meaning fluctuation. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible and is used to identify two Israelites. Its usage is confined to genealogical records.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H8174 serves to establish lineage within the book of 1 Chronicles. First, Shaaph is listed as one of the sons of Jahdai, alongside his brothers Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, and Ephah 1 Chronicles 2:47. In a separate context, he is identified as the father of Madmannah, a place in Palestine 1 Chronicles 2:49.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for Shaaph's identity and relationships:

  • H1121 bên (a son): This word establishes Shaaph's direct genealogical link as one of the sons of Jahdai 1 Chronicles 2:47. The term is fundamental in scripture for defining family lines and inheritance.
  • H4089 Madmannâh (Madmannah): This is the name of a place in Palestine for which Shaaph is named the father 1 Chronicles 2:49, suggesting he was its founder or a key ancestor.
  • H3056 Yehday (Jahdai): Identified as an Israelite, he is named as the father of Shaaph and his brothers, fixing Shaaph's position within that specific family line 1 Chronicles 2:47.
  • H1 ʼâb (father): This term is used to describe Shaaph's role as the progenitor of the inhabitants of Madmannah 1 Chronicles 2:49.

Theological Significance

The significance of H8174 is rooted entirely in its genealogical function. It serves to document specific ancestral connections within Israel's history.

  • Genealogical Record: Shaaph is named as a son of Jahdai, preserving a specific branch of an Israelite family tree 1 Chronicles 2:47.
  • Progenitor of a Place: He is identified as the father of Madmannah, linking a person to the settlement of a specific location 1 Chronicles 2:49.
  • Connection to Caleb's Line: The verse naming him as the father of Madmannah also mentions Caleb and his daughter Achsah, placing Shaaph within the broader context of the lineage of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:49.

Summary

In summary, H8174 is a proper name, Shaʻaph, whose importance lies in its role within biblical genealogies. Appearing only in 1 Chronicles, the name functions as a marker of lineage, identifying Shaaph as both a son of Jahdai and the ancestral father of the inhabitants of Madmannah. His mention is crucial for preserving the detailed family and regional records of ancient Israel.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • שָׁעַף

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H4089 מַדְמַנָּה a variation for מַדְמֵנָה; Madmannah, a place in Palestine; Madmannah. H3056 יֶהְדַי perhaps from a form corresponding to יְהוּדlemma יְהיּד yod, corrected to יְהוּד; Judaistic; Jehdai, an Israelite; Jehda H1 אָב a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in 1 Chronicles — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.