שׁוּעָא
𐤔𐤅𐤏𐤀
Shua
H7774 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, denoting (1) a Canaanite woman associated as the wife of Judah, mother to some of his children; (2) an individual, son or descendant of Heber, as listed among the clans of the northern tribes. The word itself, though homonymous with the noun meaning 'cry for help,' here serves as a personal name, with no lexical evidence of it being used as a common noun for 'wealth.' The word is limited to its function as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
personal name (female Canaanite individual, Genesis 38:2,12; male or family name in genealogies, 1 Chronicles 4:11); does not function as a common noun; sometimes associated in later tradition with 'wealth'
Root / Etymology
The name is possibly derived from the root שׁו״ע (שָׁוַע, sh-w-‘), whose basic meaning is 'to cry out, call for help.' The connection of the proper name with the meaning 'wealth' is likely a conflation from later interpretive traditions rather than direct etymology. The formation follows standard patterns of Hebrew theophoric or descriptive names, though no direct theophoric element is evident here.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Genesis 38:2,12, the name שׁוּעָא refers to a Canaanite woman who becomes the wife of Judah; she is never called an Israelite, and the text instead identifies her by her native identity. Some translations, influenced by later tradition, have the name 'Shua' refer to Judah's wife; others take Shua as her father. In 1 Chronicles 4:11, the name appears among minor clan lists as a male descendant within the genealogies of Judah or Simeon; there is no evidence this individual or these persons are the same as the Canaanite woman of Genesis. The meaning 'wealth' is not clearly attested for this Hebrew proper name in biblical texts, and reflects interpretive tradition outside the text. The Greek Septuagint transliterates the name without additional meaning. The term is distinct from שׁוע (sho'a’, outcry for help). Later tradition sometimes confuses or merges individuals by this name, but contextual differentiation remains necessary for historical accuracy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁוַע; wealth; Shua, an Israelitess; Shua.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלך, שוע (m-l-k; sh-w-ʿ) — rule, reign, be king, deliver, help, save
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7774-01 |
שׁ֖וּעַ | shua | HNp |
Shua | My King is Deliverance | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7774-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:3 | שׁ֖וּעַ | shua | HNp |
Shua | My King is Deliverance |
H7774-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:32 | שׁוּעָ֥א | shua | HNp |
Shua | My King is Deliverance |