Lexical Summary Guni: Guni Original Word: גּוּנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Guni Probably from ganan; protected; Guni, the name of two Israelites -- Guni. see HEBREW ganan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition two Isr. NASB Translation Guni (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs גּוּנִי proper name, masculine 1. a Naphtalite Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:48; 1 Chronicles 7:13. 2 1 Chronicles 5:15 a Gadite. Topical Lexicon Genealogical Setting Guni appears first in Genesis 46:24 as one of “the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.” He is therefore a grandson of Jacob and a son of Bilhah’s line through Naphtali, included among the seventy persons who entered Egypt. His name later designates a clan—“Guni, from the Gunite clan” (Numbers 26:48)—showing that his descendants retained a distinct identity within the tribe of Naphtali for at least four centuries, from the migration to Egypt until the second wilderness census on the Plains of Moab. Clan Identity in the Wilderness Census Numbers 26 lists Guni alongside Jahzeel, Jezer, and Shillem as eponymous ancestors of Naphtali’s four wilderness clans. The Gunites contributed to the tribal muster counted for military service and inheritance in Canaan. Their inclusion affirms the continuity of God’s covenantal promises to the patriarchs: every family, however small, was numbered and granted a share in the land (Numbers 26:52–56). Territorial Portion and Later History Naphtali’s allotment lay in the fertile uplands and lakeside valleys north and west of the Sea of Galilee. Though Scripture does not trace the Gunites explicitly through the conquest era, their clan would have shared in the region’s prosperity foreshadowed by Moses: “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of the blessing of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 33:23). The prophetic blessing finds geographic fulfillment in Isaiah 9:1–2, where Naphtali’s territory becomes the first to receive the great light of Messiah’s ministry. Thus, the line of Guni indirectly participates in the redemptive account centered in Galilee. A Namesake in Gad 1 Chronicles 5:15 introduces another Guni, ancestor of Ahi son of Abdiel, a leader among the Gadites east of the Jordan. While this second Guni cannot be equated with Naphtali’s son, the recurrence of the name underlines its acceptance across tribal boundaries. The Gadite Guni heads a family of warriors who later join David’s cause (1 Chronicles 5:18–22), illustrating how individuals bearing the name contribute to Israel’s defense and unity. Spiritual and Theological Significance 1. Covenant Continuity: Guni’s presence in both Genesis and Numbers testifies to God’s faithfulness in preserving every clan from patriarchal times through national formation. Practical Applications • Family names matter in God’s economy; believers can trust Him to remember and reward generational faithfulness (Psalm 112:2). Key References Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:48; 1 Chronicles 5:15; 1 Chronicles 7:13. Forms and Transliterations גּוּנִ֔י גוני וְגוּנִ֖י וְגוּנִ֛י וגוני לְגוּנִ֕י לגוני gū·nî guNi gūnî lə·ḡū·nî leguNi ləḡūnî veguNi wə·ḡū·nî wəḡūnîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 46:24 HEB: נַפְתָּלִ֑י יַחְצְאֵ֥ל וְגוּנִ֖י וְיֵ֥צֶר וְשִׁלֵּֽם׃ NAS: Jahzeel and Guni and Jezer KJV: Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, INT: of Naphtali Jahzeel and Guni and Jezer and Shillem Numbers 26:48 1 Chronicles 5:15 1 Chronicles 7:13 4 Occurrences |
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