Original Word: שְׁפוֹ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shphow
Pronunciation: SHAY-fo
Phonetic Spelling: (shef-o')
KJV: Shephi, Shepho
NASB: Shephi, Shepho
Word Origin: [from H8192 (שָׁפָה - bare)]

1. baldness
2. Shepho or Shephi, an Idumaean

Shephi, Shepho

Or Shphiy {shef-ee'}; from shaphah; baldness (compare shphiy); Shepho or Shephi, an Idumaean -- Shephi, Shepho.

see HEBREW shaphah

see HEBREW shphiy

Word Origin
from shaphah
Definition
"bareness," an Edomite
NASB Translation
Shephi (1), Shepho (1).

שְׁפוֺ proper name, masculine in Edom, Genesis 36:23, Σωφ, ᵐ5^L Σωφαν; II. שְׁפִי 1 Chronicles 1:40, בוסּ, ᵐ5^L Σαμφει

Identity and Scriptural Placement

Shepho (Strong’s Hebrew 8195 שְׁפוֹ) is listed twice in the genealogies that outline the peoples of Edom. He appears among the five sons of Shobal, a grandson of Seir the Horite, in Genesis 36:23 and is repeated in the parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1:40. His clan therefore belongs to the line of the Horites who were absorbed into the Edomite confederation that descended from Esau.

Genealogical Context and Reliability of Scripture

The inclusion of minor figures such as Shepho testifies to the precision of the biblical genealogies. Moses’ record of Edomite lineage in Genesis 36 is later confirmed by the Chronicler centuries afterward, demonstrating textual consistency across the canon. These seemingly incidental names furnish an anchor for the historical credibility of Genesis and Chronicles, linking Israel’s account to its neighboring peoples and reminding contemporary readers that the biblical narrative intersects with verifiable human history.

Historical and Geographical Considerations

Shobal’s family occupied the territory of Seir in the mountainous region southeast of Canaan, an area later ruled by Edomite chiefs and eventually dominated by the Nabataeans near Petra. While Shepho himself is mentioned only in the genealogical lists, his clan would have held a distinct settlement or encampment within this rugged landscape. Archaeological surveys identify fortified sites and rock–cut dwellings in Edom that illustrate the social structure suggested by the Horite chieftains named in Genesis 36:30. Shepho’s clan would have contributed to the network of local governance that preceded the rise of Edom as a nation.

Relationship to Israel and Redemptive History

The Edomites, though kin to Israel through Esau, frequently opposed the covenant people (Numbers 20:14–21; Obadiah 10–14). The record of Shepho inside the inspired text underscores that God’s purposes embrace—and hold accountable—every nation descended from Abraham. By tracing Edomite lines back to individuals like Shepho, Scripture demonstrates that divine election does not ignore any branch of Abraham’s family tree, even when some stand in persistent hostility to the chosen line.

Theological Implications

1. Divine Sovereignty over All Peoples: The preservation of Shepho’s name affirms that no clan escapes God’s notice. Acts 17:26 teaches that God “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands,” a truth illustrated when Genesis catalogs even those tribes beyond the covenant line.
2. The Warning of Esau’s Line: Hebrews 12:16–17 cautions believers not to imitate Esau’s godlessness. Edomite genealogies, including Shepho’s, provide a sober backdrop to that warning, reminding the Church that persistent unbelief yields a legacy of conflict with God’s purposes.
3. The Hope of Inclusion: Obadiah 21 envisions a day when “deliverers will ascend from Mount Zion to rule over the hill country of Esau.” In the millennial and eternal perspectives, descendants of Edom—including Shepho’s line—are not beyond the reach of eventual restoration under Messiah’s reign.

Ministry Applications

• Genealogies Encourage Trust in Scripture: Teaching texts that feature Shepho helps congregations appreciate the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) and reinforces the doctrine of plenary inspiration—even in passages that appear merely historical.
• Outreach Rooted in Shared Humanity: The linkage of Israel to Edom through genealogies supports evangelistic appeals that highlight humanity’s common ancestry and equal need for redemption in Christ.
• Humility before Providence: Leaders can draw on the obscure figure of Shepho to model how believers today, though seemingly minor in the world’s eyes, are woven into a divine narrative far larger than themselves.

Christological Foreshadowing

Though Shepho plays no active role in messianic prophecy, his entry illustrates the breadth of lineages that converge in the unfolding plan culminating in Jesus Christ. The gospel writers trace the Messiah’s genealogy through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38), yet the simultaneous chronicling of non–Messianic branches such as Shepho’s shows God’s comprehensive governance of world history, preparing the stage upon which the Redeemer would appear “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4).

Conclusion

Shepho’s brief mention serves the dual purpose of confirming Scripture’s meticulous historical record and reminding believers that every people, great or small, stands within God’s sovereign oversight. His clan’s position in the Edomite roster calls modern readers to renewed confidence in the veracity of God’s Word, to humble acknowledgment of divine providence, and to committed participation in God’s ongoing redemption account that ultimately centers on Jesus Christ.

שְׁפ֖וֹ שְׁפִ֣י שפו שפי šə·p̄î šə·p̄ōw šəp̄î šəp̄ōw sheFi sheFoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts