7765. Shuni

Lexical Summary

Shuni: Shunites

Original Word: שׁוּנִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Shuwniy
Pronunciation: SHOO-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-nee')
KJV: Shunites
NASB: Shunites
Word Origin: [patronymic from H7764 (שׁוּנִי - Shuni)]

1. a Shunite (collectively) or descendants of Shuni

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Shunites

Patronymic from Shuwniy; a Shunite (collectively) or descendants of Shuni -- Shunites.

see HEBREW Shuwniy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Shuni
Definition
desc. of Shuni
NASB Translation
Shunites (1).

Topical Lexicon

Identity and Etymological Note

Shuni is listed among the sons of Gad and becomes the forefather of the Shunite clan. The name is related to an idea of quietness or repose, a nuance echoed in Gad’s blessing, “Gad shall dwell as a lion” (Deuteronomy 33:20), suggesting settled strength after battle.

Biblical References

• Genesis 46:16 records Shuni as one of the seven sons who entered Egypt with Jacob.
• Numbers 26:15 (the census on the plains of Moab) names the clan that sprang from him: “of Shuni, the Shunite clan”.

Historical Setting

1. Patriarchal Era: Shuni is born during the years Jacob sojourned in Paddan-aram. His inclusion in the list that went down to Egypt emphasizes the covenant family’s growth before the Exodus.
2. Wilderness Period: Roughly four centuries later, the census under Moses tallies the Shunites on the eve of entering Canaan, demonstrating the preservation of each family line despite slavery and wilderness judgments.
3. Conquest and Settlement: Although the clan is not singled out later, its inheritance is bound up with the tribe of Gad east of the Jordan (Joshua 13:24-28), an area that became a strategic buffer against eastern raiders.

Tribal Function within Gad

Gad’s territory demanded a people adept at both herding and warfare. The Shunites would have contributed to:
• Trans-Jordan defense (1 Chronicles 5:18-22).
• Supplying troops to David (1 Chronicles 12:8-15), the Gadites being renowned for valor.

The survival and strength of the clan verify Jacob’s prophetic word, “He shall triumph at last” (Genesis 49:19).

Covenantal Significance

Every named family in Israel serves as a testimony that the LORD “keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Deuteronomy 7:9). From one man in Genesis to a recognized clan in Numbers, Shuni illustrates:
• God’s faithfulness to multiply Abraham’s seed.
• The precision with which the promised land was apportioned—each name securing tangible inheritance.

Ministry Applications

1. Assurance of Divine Memory: Obscure names are preserved in Scripture, encouraging believers that no faithful servant is forgotten (Hebrews 6:10).
2. Generational Responsibility: The Shunites received an inheritance to steward; Christian families are to pass on spiritual as well as material blessings (2 Timothy 1:5).
3. Corporate Identity: Like Gad’s clans, local congregations form integral parts of one body (1 Corinthians 12:27); unity does not erase distinct callings.

Legacy

Shuni’s single explicit Old Testament mention does not relegate him to insignificance. Rather, it frames a larger narrative: individual obedience ripples through generations, and God’s redemptive plan advances through every household inscribed in His Word.

Forms and Transliterations

הַשּׁוּנִֽי׃ השוני׃ haš·šū·nî hashshuNi haššūnî

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 26:15
HEB: לְשׁוּנִ֕י מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשּׁוּנִֽי׃
NAS: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;
KJV: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
INT: of Shuni the family of the Shunites

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7765
1 Occurrence

haš·šū·nî — 1 Occ.