7748. Shucham

Lexical Summary

Shucham: Shuham

Original Word: שׁוּחָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shuwcham
Pronunciation: SHOO-kham
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-khawm')
KJV: Shuham
NASB: Shuham
Word Origin: [from H7743 (שׁוַּח - bowed down)]

1. humbly
2. Shucham, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Shuham

From shuwach; humbly; Shucham, an Israelite -- Shuham.

see HEBREW shuwach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from shuach
Definition
a Danite
NASB Translation
Shuham (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שׁוּחָם proper name, masculine in Dan, Numbers 26:42, Σαμ(ε)ι, Σαμε; = II. חוּשִׁים, חֻשִׁים Genesis 46:23, Ασομ.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Identity

Shuham (Strong’s Hebrew 7748, שׁוּחָם) is recorded as the eponymous forefather of the clan called the Shuhamites within the tribe of Dan. His name is preserved only once in the Hebrew text, yet it represents an entire family line that contributed to the numerical strength and heritage of Dan.

Biblical Occurrence and Context

Numbers 26:42 places Shuham in the second wilderness census conducted on the Plains of Moab before Israel entered Canaan:

“These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: Of Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan, all of them Shuhamite clans; their registration numbered 64,400”.

The verse emphasizes that every Danite clan traced its lineage through Shuham, underscoring his centrality to the tribe’s identity after forty years of desert wanderings.

Historical and Genealogical Connections

1. Earlier genealogies list “Hushim” as Dan’s son (Genesis 46:23). Many scholars see Hushim and Shuham as variant spellings of the same ancestor, reflecting dialectal or scribal developments over centuries.
2. The transition from a single individual to a substantial clan illustrates the fulfillment of God’s promise that the descendants of the patriarchs would become numerous (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17).
3. By the time of the second census, the Shuhamites alone numbered 64,400 fighting men, an increase from the 62,700 of the first census (Numbers 1:39). In contrast with tribes that decreased during the wilderness years, Dan’s growth testifies to divine preservation.

Tribal Significance

• Land Allocation: Joshua 19:40-48 assigns territory to Dan, although much of it proved difficult to secure, prompting later migration northward (Judges 18). The Shuhamites would have shared in those allotments and struggles.
• Priestly Dress Parallel: The tribe of Dan was inscribed on one of the onyx stones worn on Aaron’s shoulders (Exodus 28:9-12). Every time the high priest appeared in the sanctuary, the Shuhamite name was represented before God, signifying covenant inclusion.
• Prophetic Absence and Hope: Dan is not listed among the sealed tribes in Revelation 7. Various explanations exist, but the historical witness of Shuham reminds readers that God’s covenant dealings with Israel include both judgment and eventual restoration (Ezekiel 48:1-2 shows Dan receiving land in the future millennial allotment).

Ministry and Practical Applications

1. Value of the Individual: Though only one verse mentions Shuham, the entire clan bore his name. Likewise, God notices and records the seemingly obscure (Luke 12:7).
2. Faithfulness Across Generations: The continuity from Hushim to Shuhamites calls believers to transmit faith and heritage to descendants (Psalm 78:4-7; 2 Timothy 2:2).
3. Corporate Identity: Dan’s census underscores the importance of belonging to a covenant community. In local churches, membership, discipleship, and accountability echo this principle (Hebrews 10:24-25).
4. God’s Arithmetic: The increase of Dan amid wilderness hardships encourages trust that the Lord can multiply fruitfulness even in barren settings (John 15:5).

Summary

Shuham stands as the ancestral head of the Danite clans counted in the second wilderness census. Though mentioned only once, his legacy shaped the tribe’s demographic strength, land inheritance, and participation in Israel’s redemptive story. His inclusion in Scripture affirms God’s meticulous care for every name, clan, and promise throughout salvation history.

Forms and Transliterations

לְשׁוּחָ֕ם לשוחם lə·šū·ḥām leshuCham ləšūḥām

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 26:42
HEB: דָן֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔ם לְשׁוּחָ֕ם מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשּׁוּחָמִ֑י
NAS: according to their families: of Shuham, the family
KJV: after their families: of Shuham, the family
INT: of Dan to their families of Shuham the family of the Shuhamites

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7748
1 Occurrence

lə·šū·ḥām — 1 Occ.