The Hebrew word Shᵉphûwphâm, represented by H8197, is an Israelite personal name meaning serpent-like. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses. The name is also rendered as Shephuphan or Shupham in scripture and refers to a specific Israelite individual.
In the biblical narrative, H8197 is used exclusively within genealogical and census records to identify a person and his lineage. In 1 Chronicles, the name appears as Shephuphan in a list of names alongside Gera and Huram 1 Chronicles 8:5. In Numbers, the name is given as Shupham, who is identified as the progenitor of the family of the Shuphamites during a census of Israelite clans Numbers 26:39.
Several related words help clarify the context of H8197 as part of Israel's familial structure:
- H7781 Shûwphâmîy (Shuphamite): This is the patronymic term derived from Shupham, used to identify the descendants of Shephupham as a collective group or family Numbers 26:39.
- H4940 mishpâchâh (family): This word defines a family or circle of relatives and is used to designate the clan that descended from Shupham Numbers 26:39.
- H1617 Gêrâʼ (Gera): The name of an Israelite listed directly with Shephuphan in the genealogical account in 1 Chronicles, indicating a shared context in the biblical record 1 Chronicles 8:5.
- H2349 Chûwphâm (Hupham): An Israelite whose family is listed in parallel with Shupham's in the census of Numbers, highlighting the structured nature of these records Numbers 26:39.
The significance of H8197 is rooted in its role within the biblical documentation of Israel's identity and structure.
- Genealogical Marker: The inclusion of Shephuphan in the biblical genealogies underscores the importance of lineage and the meticulous preservation of ancestral records within ancient Israel 1 Chronicles 8:5.
- Clan Progenitor: As Shupham, he is named as the founder of a specific family, the Shuphamites. This establishes his place in the national census and the organization of the tribes of Israel Numbers 26:39.
- Component of the Nation: The recording of individuals like Shupham and their families demonstrates the detailed accounting of the people who comprised the nation of Israel.
In summary, H8197 is a proper name, Shephuphan or Shupham, whose importance is tied to its function in the scriptural record. While appearing only twice, it serves as a key identifier for an Israelite individual and the family clan he founded. Its presence in both a genealogy and a national census highlights the biblical emphasis on preserving the precise familial and tribal structure of the Israelite people.
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