Original Word: שׁוּנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shuwniy
Pronunciation: SHOO-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-nee')
KJV: Shuni
NASB: Shuni
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to rest]

1. quiet
2. Shuni, an Israelite

Shuni

From an unused root meaning to rest; quiet; Shuni, an Israelite -- Shuni.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a Gadite
NASB Translation
Shuni (2).

שׁוּנִי 1. proper name, masculine in Gad, Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15; Σαυν(ε)ις, Σουνει, Σωυνι.

2. adjective, of a people of

1, with article = collective noun Numbers 26:15.

Genealogical Placement

Shuni is named in Genesis 46:16 among the seven sons of Gad and so stands as a grandson of Jacob through Leah’s handmaid Zilpah. His inclusion among the seventy persons who migrated with Jacob to Egypt identifies him as one of the foundational patriarchs of Israel’s tribal system. Centuries later Numbers 26:15 records his line in the second wilderness census, where “Shuni” has become the head of “the Shunite clan.” Scripture offers no personal exploits, yet by preserving his name the sacred record safeguards every branch of the covenant family tree.

Role in the Formation of Israel’s Tribal Structure

The list in Genesis 46 functions as a bridge between the individual patriarchs and the corporate nation that would emerge in Exodus. Each son of Gad later marks off a distinct sub-tribe. In the wilderness encampment Gad camped on the south side (Numbers 2:10–16), and every Shunite household marched and encamped under that banner. When Israel settled east of the Jordan, Gad received a broad tract from Jazer northward to part of Gilead (Joshua 13:24-28). The Shunite clan, though unnamed in the allotment narrative, would have shared in that inheritance, rooting Shuni’s name permanently in the promised land.

Covenant Continuity in the Wilderness Census

The first census (Numbers 1) counts Gad at 45,650 fighting men; the second (Numbers 26) lists 40,500. The explicit mention of the Shunite clan in the latter census demonstrates that, despite plagues, judicial judgments, and forty years of wilderness discipline, the descendants of Shuni survived as an identifiable group. This evidences the steadfast preservation of every covenant branch, echoing the promise that Israel would leave Egypt “a great nation” (Genesis 46:3).

Territorial and Historical Implications

The Bible supplies no separate narrative about the Shunites after Numbers 26, yet Gad’s later history sheds light on their probable experience:
• In the conquest Gad’s warriors are praised as “mighty men of valor” (Joshua 1:12-14).
• During the judges period Jephthah gathers support from Gilead, Gad’s territory (Judges 11).
• In David’s reign valiant Gadites join him in the wilderness of Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:8-15).

As a component clan, the Shunites would have shared in these military exploits and in the spiritual battles that accompanied them.

Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Applications

1. God’s regard for every believer: Shuni appears only in lists, yet the Spirit records him twice. No servant of God is overlooked, even when unnoticed by history.
2. Family legacy: Shuni’s obedience in following Jacob to Egypt positioned generations to inherit Canaan. Faithful choices today shape the spiritual destiny of descendants.
3. Corporate identity within diversity: The Shunites retained their clan distinction while fully integrated into Gad and, by extension, Israel. Local churches mirror this pattern—distinct gifts employed for the good of the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Foreshadowings of Messianic Fulfillment

The preservation of minor clans such as the Shunites supports the unbroken lineage leading to Messiah. From Abraham to David to Jesus, every name matters. Shuni’s secure place in the record underlines the accuracy of the genealogical framework that ultimately validates the Incarnation narratives in Matthew and Luke.

Summary

Shuni, though briefly mentioned, embodies the faithfulness of God to every covenant heir. His descendants stand as witnesses to divine preservation from Egypt to Canaan, urging believers to trust the Lord who “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4).

לְשׁוּנִ֕י לשוני שׁוּנִ֣י שוני lə·šū·nî leshuNi ləšūnî shuNi šū·nî šūnîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts