8225. Shiphmi
Lexical Summary
Shiphmi: Shiphmi

Original Word: שִׁפְמִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Shiphmiy
Pronunciation: SHIF-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (shif-mee')
KJV: Shiphmite
NASB: Shiphmite
Word Origin: [patrial from H8221 (שְׁפָם - Shepham)]

1. a Shiphmite or inhabitant of Shepham

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shiphmite

Patrial from Shpham; a Shiphmite or inhabitant of Shepham -- Shiphmite.

see HEBREW Shpham

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Shepham
Definition
inhab. of Shepham
NASB Translation
Shiphmite (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שִׁפְמִי adjective, of a people, (of foregoing ?); — 1 Chronicles 27:27.

שׁוּפָמִי

adjective, of a people see שְׁפוּפָם below שׁפף.

שׁפן (√ of following; compare Arabic FresnelJAS 1838, 514 Thes1467 [usually called or ]).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

The term appears once in inspired Scripture, describing “Zabdi the Shiphmite” who oversaw the produce of King David’s vineyards for the wine cellars (1 Chronicles 27:27).

Historical Background

1 Chronicles 27 catalogs the men charged with various civil and military responsibilities in David’s united kingdom. The chapter portrays an organized administration in which agricultural oversight stood alongside military and governmental duties, underscoring the agrarian foundation of Israel’s economy. The office entrusted to Zabdi the Shiphmite reveals David’s concern that agricultural abundance be managed with diligence, both for palace provision and for national prosperity.

Davidic Administrative Structure

David’s officials were divided by months, tribes, and specialties. “Shimei the Ramathite” supervised the vineyards themselves, whereas Zabdi, identified by his association with Shiphm, controlled the processed yield—“the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars.” This division of labor reflects advanced stewardship: cultivation, harvest, and storage were assigned to different overseers to assure quality and accountability. Such specialization prefigures later prophetic images in which God expects fruitfulness and faithful management of resources (Isaiah 5:1–7; John 15:1-8).

Geographical Considerations

“Shiphmite” designates a native or inhabitant of an otherwise unknown locality, Shiphm or Shiphmah. Its obscurity highlights the inclusiveness of David’s administration: men from lesser-known towns shared in high royal service. This echoes the principle that spiritual status in God’s sovereign purposes depends not on prominence of origin but on faithfulness of character (1 Samuel 16:7).

Ministry and Theological Significance

1. Stewardship: Zabdi’s responsibility admonishes believers to administer God-given resources wisely.
2. Joy and Worship: Wine in Scripture often signifies blessing and joy (Psalm 104:15). By safeguarding the wine supply, Zabdi indirectly supported temple worship and national feasts, which required drink offerings (Numbers 15:5, 7, 10).
3. Anticipation of Messianic Fulfillment: The well-ordered kingdom under David foreshadows the perfect reign of the Messiah, in which every steward will give account (Luke 19:13-17).

Lessons for Believers

• Faithfulness in obscure posts matters to God; He records even a single mention of Zabdi’s service.
• Proper oversight of material goods enables corporate worship and witness.
• God’s kingdom values diligence, specialization, and accountability, principles applicable to church life and vocational callings today.

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 8225 marks Zabdi’s identity as a “Shiphmite,” a testament to careful organization in David’s government and an enduring reminder that humble, competent stewardship contributes to divine purposes and national blessing.

Forms and Transliterations
הַשִּׁפְמִֽי׃ השפמי׃ haš·šip̄·mî hashshifMi haššip̄mî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 27:27
HEB: הַיַּ֔יִן זַבְדִּ֖י הַשִּׁפְמִֽי׃ ס
NAS: and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge
KJV: cellars [was] Zabdi the Shiphmite:
INT: the wine and Zabdi the Shiphmite

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8225
1 Occurrence


haš·šip̄·mî — 1 Occ.

8224
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