Lexical Summary
Shuthelach: Shuthelach
Original Word:שׁוּתֶלַח
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Shuwthelach
Pronunciation:shoo-theh-lakh
Phonetic Spelling:(shoo-theh'-lakh)
KJV: Shuthelah
NASB:Shuthelah
Word Origin:[probably fromH7582 (שָׁאָה - devastated) and the same asH8520 (תֶּלַח - Telah)]
1. crash of breakage
2. Shuthelach, the name of two Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shuthelah
Probably fromsha'ah and the same asTelach; crash of breakage; Shuthelach, the name of two Israelites -- Shuthelah.
see HEBREWsha'ah
see HEBREWTelach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitionan Ephraimite name
NASB TranslationShuthelah (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
Numbers 26:35;
1 Chronicles 7:21,
1 Chronicles 7:20;
Numbers 26:36; , , etc.,
L ().
Topical Lexicon
ShuthelahName and Lineage
A principal son of Ephraim, Shuthelah stands at the head of the Shuthelahite clan (Numbers 26:35). A later descendant bears the same name (1 Chronicles 7:21), showing the preservation of the family line across generations.
Biblical Occurrences
•Numbers 26:35-36 records the clan census: “These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: the Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah… These were the descendants of Shuthelah: the Eranite clan from Eran”.
•1 Chronicles 7:20-21 traces Ephraim’s line through Shuthelah and recounts the deaths of Ezer and Elead at the hands of men of Gath, illustrating early conflict with Philistia.
Historical Setting
The Numbers census (plains of Moab, late fifteenth century B.C.) confirms that the Shuthelahites survived the wilderness and were included in Ephraim’s 32,500 fighting men (Numbers 26:37). Centuries later, the Chronicler reaffirms their place in post-exilic Israel, underscoring continuity of covenant identity.
Tribal and Territorial Implications
Within the land allotment of Ephraim (Joshua 16), the Shuthelahites would have held part of the central hill country, helping secure approaches to Shiloh and contributing to the tribe’s military and spiritual significance.
Covenant Themes
1 Chronicles 7 portrays tragedy and renewal: after the loss of Ephraim’s sons, God grants further offspring, maintaining the line. Shuthelah’s heritage thus mirrors the biblical pattern of death and restoration, foreshadowing redemptive hope.
Ministry and Devotional Insights
• Quiet faithfulness: though unnamed in exploits, Shuthelah’s progeny served in Israel’s army, proving the value of steady, unseen obedience.
• Corporate belonging: the title “Shuthelahite” highlights individual identity within a covenant community, analogous to believers’ place in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).
• Perseverance through loss: the family’s recovery after tragedy models trust in God’s sustaining grace.
Later Jewish Tradition
While later writings add little detail, the clan’s inclusion in genealogies affected tribal organization remembered into the Second Temple period, helping preserve Ephraim’s heritage.
New Testament Resonance
Although Shuthelah is not named in the New Testament, sustaining his clan secured a foothold for future salvation history: Ephraim’s territory provided settings for prophetic ministry and for events in Jesus’ life (John 11:54).
Even with only four direct references, Shuthelah exemplifies God’s fidelity to generations, the fruitfulness of ordinary faith, and the assurance that every lineage in Scripture contributes to the unfolding redemptive plan.
Forms and Transliterations
וְשׁוּתֶ֥לַח ושותלח לְשׁוּתֶ֗לַח לשותלח שׁוּתָ֑לַח שותלח lə·šū·ṯe·laḥ leshuTelach ləšūṯelaḥ shuTalach šū·ṯā·laḥ šūṯālaḥ veshuTelach wə·šū·ṯe·laḥ wəšūṯelaḥ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
