מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת

𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤇𐤕

mishepachat

the family of

from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red).

H4940

Numbers 26:21 · Word #5

Lexicon H4940

Lemmaמִשְׁפָּחָה
Lemma (Paleo)𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤇𐤄
Transliterationmishpâchâh
Strong'sH4940
In-contextthe family of

Morphology HNcfsc All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender f — Feminine — Feminine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State c — Construct — The noun is bound to the following word

SIBI-P1 H4940-22

the branching clan of

Rootשׁפח (š-p-ḥ)
Core Meaningsto pour out, spread out, branch forth, extend
Semantic Rangefamily, clan, extended kinship group, lineage division within a tribe, social class, kind or category
Conceptual SignificanceIn the Hebrew Bible, the מִשְׁפָּחָה represents the fundamental kinship unit between household and tribe, structuring inheritance, identity, covenant membership, and land allotment. It expresses the organic, branching continuity of a people descended from a common ancestor.
Morphological NotesNoun, common feminine singular construct (HNcfsc). The construct form מִשְׁפַּחַת links the clan to a following name or group ("clan of X"). Absolute form is מִשְׁפָּחָה.
Rendering Rationaleמִשְׁפַּחַת is a feminine singular noun in the construct state ("family/clan of"). Rendering it as "the branching clan of" preserves the likely root idea of spreading or branching out (שׁפח) while accurately reflecting its feminine singular construct form that links it to a following genitive.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root שׁפח (to pour out, spread out, branch forth, extend)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H4940-01 bemishepechotam in their extended-clans
H4940-02 bemishepechoteyhem within their spread-out clans
H8198-01 beshifechatekha with your household-maid

Word Usage (304 occurrences of H4940)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Genesis 8:19 לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם lemishepechoteyhem according to their families
Genesis 10:5 לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖/ם lemishepechotam according to their families
Genesis 10:18 מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת mishepechot families