Original Word: פוּנִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Puwniy
Pronunciation: POO-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (poo-nee')
KJV: Punites
NASB: Punites
Word Origin: [patronymically from an unused name meaning a turn]

1. a Punite (collectively) or descendants of an unknown Pun

Punites

Patronymically from an unused name meaning a turn; a Punite (collectively) or descendants of an unknown Pun -- Punites.

Word Origin
probably from Puah
Definition
desc. of Puvah
NASB Translation
Punites (1).

מּוּנִי adjective, of a people of מֻּוָּה, with article Numbers 26:23; read מֻּוָּנִי ? or (Φουαει) מֻּוִּי ? — ᵐ5^L Φουλαϊ.

Biblical Occurrence

Puni is named once, in the wilderness census of Numbers 26:23, as progenitor of “the Punites” within the tribe of Issachar. The list, recorded on the plains of Moab just before Israel crossed the Jordan, affirms every clan’s place in the covenant community.

Genealogical Context

Earlier registers spell the same ancestor “Puah” or “Puvah” (Genesis 46:13; 1 Chronicles 7:1). Together with Tola, Jashub, and Shimron, Puni gave Issachar its four tribal divisions. Between the first and second censuses Issachar’s numbers rose from 54,400 (Numbers 1:29) to 64,300 (Numbers 26:25); growth in Puni’s line helped supply fresh strength for conquest and settlement.

Tribal Role in Israel’s History

Issachar’s allotment lay in the fertile Jezreel Valley (Joshua 19:17-23). Judges identifies Tola—likely from the allied clan—as a deliverer (Judges 10:1), and Chronicles praises men of Issachar “who understood the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Though Scripture records no individual Punite hero, the clan’s labor, counsel, and warriors supported Israel’s agricultural wealth and national leadership.

Spiritual Themes

1. Covenant Inclusion: The census verified each family’s right to an inheritance, foreshadowing the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).
2. Divine Memory: Variant spellings show that God’s recognition of His people outlasts linguistic shifts (Malachi 3:16-17).
3. Fruitfulness in Difficulty: Even amid wilderness judgments, the Punites multiplied, illustrating the Lord’s power to bless in barren places (Psalm 1:3).

Christological Perspective

Every clan preserved in Israel’s genealogies contributes to the lineage through which the Messiah came and to the wider tapestry of redemption (Galatians 3:16). The census that names Puni anticipates the day when Christ “will gather His elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:31).

Ministry Insights

• Shepherding Every Believer: As the census listed each household, so faithful leadership knows and nurtures every member (John 10:3).
• Legacy Thinking: Puni’s descendants remind the church to pray and labor for generations yet unborn (Psalm 78:5-7).
• Cultural Discernment: Building on Issachar’s reputation, ministries should pair biblical fidelity with an understanding of the times (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Summary

Though Puni’s name appears only once, his clan’s inclusion in Numbers 26 underscores God’s meticulous care for every branch of His people, encouraging the church to value obscured histories, cherish covenant identity, and trust the Lord to multiply faithfulness across generations.

הַפּוּנִֽי׃ הפוני׃ hap·pū·nî happuNi happūnîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts