סֻכִּי
𐤎𐤊𐤉
Çukkîy
H5525 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper gentilic term denoting a member of the group called the Sukkites or Sukkiim, possibly an ethnic or tribal designation referring to people associated with a location or people called Sukk or Sukkah. The term is attested as referring to a group allied with Shishak of Egypt in a military campaign against Rehoboam in the Hebrew Bible. The precise geographic or ethnic reference is unclear, but the usage indicates a non-Israelite people involved in regional conflicts.
Semantic Range
Sukkite, member of the Sukkites, inhabitant of Sukk; possibly a people group associated with Egypt’s southern or western territories; identifies a non-Israelite group participating in military actions against the Judahite kingdom
Root / Etymology
Derived from an uncertain root or place name, possibly from סֹךְ (Sokh) or סֻכָּה (sukkah, 'booth, shelter'), with the gentilic ending –îy denoting affiliation. The root is uncertain; it may relate to the word for 'booth' or 'shelter,' but no direct connection is textually established. The gentilic formation typically designates inhabitants or members of a people group.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This term occurs only in 2 Chronicles 12:3, where it lists the Sukkites (סֻכִּים) among the groups forming the military coalition led by Shishak (Sheshonq I), king of Egypt, against the Judahite kingdom. The exact identity and location of the Sukkites remain uncertain, as does the origin of their name. Some suggest a connection to North African or Libyan tribes attested in Egyptian records (such as the Tjeker or Shikila), but evidence is insufficient to confirm this. There are no other occurrences in the Hebrew Bible and no direct association with the root סכה ('to shelter, cover'). Later translation traditions (e.g., KJV: 'Sukkiims') perpetuate the ambiguity, treating the group as a distinct people or possibly as 'hut-dwellers,' but this interpretation derives more from etymological speculation than from textual evidence. It is not appropriate to equate the Sukkites with Israelites, Judahites, or any later historic or religious group. The term's presence in a list of foreign auxiliaries to Egypt suggests a non-Israelite, possibly North African tribal people active during the early divided monarchy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from an unknown name (perhaps סֹךְ); a Sukkite, or inhabitant of some place near Egypt (i.e. hut-dwellers); Sukkiims.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סכה (s-k-h) — shelter, cover, make a booth
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5525-01 |
סֻכִּיִּ֖ים | sukiyim | HNgmpa |
Sukkiim | Sukkites | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5525-01 |
2 Chronicles 12:3 | סֻכִּיִּ֖ים | sukiyim | HNgmpa |
Sukkiim | Sukkites |