Lexical Summary Shuchi: Shuchi Original Word: שׁוּחִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shuhite Patronymic from Shuwach; a Shuchite or descendant of Shuach -- Shuhite. see HEBREW Shuwach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Shuach Definition desc. of Shuah NASB Translation Shuhite (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs שׁוּחִי, שֻׁחִי adjective, of a people of שׁוּחַ (HilprAsayriaca i (1894), 56 compare Assyrian mSu-—a-ai); — ׳בִּלְדַּד הַשּׁו Job 2:11; Job 8:1; Job 42:9; ׳הַשּׁ Job 18:1; Job 25:1; ὁ Σαυχ(ε)ιτης, (Σαυχαιων). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Strong’s Hebrew 7747 identifies the gentillic “Shuhite,” appearing five times, all in the Book of Job (Job 2:11; 8:1; 18:1; 25:1; 42:9). In every instance it refers to Bildad, one of Job’s three principal counselors. The Shuhite designation anchors Bildad within an identifiable clan or locality, distinguishing him from Eliphaz the Temanite and Zophar the Naamathite. Historical Setting “Shuhite” points back to Shuah, the sixth son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2). His descendants settled in the Syro-Arabian desert south or southeast of Canaan. Ancient Near-Eastern records place these tribes amid the prosperous caravan routes that connected Mesopotamia, Canaan, and the Arabian Peninsula. Bildad’s presence alongside a Temanite (from Edom) and a Naamathite (likely from Arabia) illustrates how Job’s drama gathers wisdom-figures from various patriarchal lineages, underscoring the far-reaching fame of both Job’s former prosperity and his subsequent calamity (Job 1:3). Role in the Dialogues of Job Bildad the Shuhite speaks three times (Job 8; 18; 25). His speeches are marked by: Theological Significance 1. Human wisdom’s limitation. Bildad’s traditionalist reasoning cannot account for righteous suffering, highlighting the inadequacy of finite perspectives in the face of God’s inscrutable purposes (Job 42:3). Ministry Lessons • Counsel with compassion. Bildad’s speeches are doctrinally informed yet pastorally deficient; true ministry requires “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Geographical and Cultural Connections The Shuhites, dwelling along caravan routes, would have interacted with diverse cultures, contributing to Bildad’s proverbial knowledge. Their tent-dwelling lifestyle (cf. Job 8:14–15) informed his imagery of spider webs, papyrus marshes, and uprooted plants—metaphors drawn from desert life. Conclusion The Shuhite title frames Bildad as both a genuine seeker and a cautionary figure. His presence in Job testifies to the antiquity and international scope of patriarchal wisdom traditions while demonstrating that even revered sages must submit their understanding to divine revelation. Forms and Transliterations הַשֻּׁחִ֗י הַשּׁוּחִ֔י הַשּׁוּחִ֗י השוחי השחי haš·šu·ḥî haš·šū·ḥî hashshuChi haššuḥî haššūḥîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 2:11 HEB: הַתֵּימָנִי֙ וּבִלְדַּ֣ד הַשּׁוּחִ֔י וְצוֹפַ֖ר הַנַּֽעֲמָתִ֑י NAS: Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar KJV: and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar INT: the Temanite Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite Job 8:1 Job 18:1 Job 25:1 Job 42:9 5 Occurrences |
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