שְׁפוֹ
𐤔𐤐𐤅
Shefo
H8195 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a descendant of Seir the Horite, specifically named as a chief among the Horites in Edom. The word functions as a personal name, used without indication of meaning in context. The spelling may reflect a connection to the root meaning 'baldness' or 'bare hill,' but this is not explicit in its biblical usage. The name appears in genealogies associated with Edomite tribal leaders.
Semantic Range
Proper name of a Horite chief, possible allusion to baldness or bareness if used outside the personal name context
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁפָה (shafah), meaning 'to be bare' or 'to sweep bare, to make bare.' The form שְׁפוֹ refers to a personal name, possibly emphasizing a quality associated with bareness or baldness. Related forms (e.g. שְׁפִי) mean 'bare hill.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, שְׁפוֹ appears as a personal name, specifically as one of the chiefs descended from Seir the Horite, linked to the land of Edom (see Genesis 36:23; 1 Chronicles 1:40). The surrounding context is genealogical, focusing on Edom's early inhabitants before the Israelite occupation of the region. While the etymon implies a geographical or physical description (i.e., 'bare' or 'bald'), there is no evidence that the personal name was used with this meaning in narrative or poetic texts. English translations sometimes preserve the spelling (Shepho or Shephi) without attempting to translate the meaning. The alternative form שְׁפִי (Shephi) occurs in a parallel genealogical list, and the shift between the variants may reflect dialectal or orthographic traditions rather than differing meanings. In later periods, these Edomite and Horite names cease to be current within Israelite literature, reflecting shifting political and ethnic realities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׁפִי; from שָׁפָה; baldness (compare שְׁפִי); Shepho or Shephi, an Idumaean; Shephi, Shepho.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁפה (sh-p-h) — to make bare, to sweep bare, to be bald
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3472 | יִשְׁפָּה | and Yishpah |
| H4942 | מִשְׁפָּת | the twin livestock-enclosures |
| H8192 | שָׁפָה | the stripped-bare one |
| H8221 | שְׁפָם | from Shepham |
| H830 | אַשְׁפֹּת | the refuse-heap |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8195-02 |
שְׁפ֖וֹ | shefo | HNp |
Shepho | Bare-One | 1 |
H8195-01 |
שְׁפִ֣י | shefi | HNp |
Shephi | Bare-One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8195-02 |
Genesis 36:23 | שְׁפ֖וֹ | shefo | HNp |
Shepho | Bare-One |
H8195-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:40 | שְׁפִ֣י | shefi | HNp |
Shephi | Bare-One |