### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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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