Original Word: שִׁלֵּם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shillem
Pronunciation: SHIL-lem
Phonetic Spelling: (shil-lame')
KJV: Shillem
NASB: Shillem
Word Origin: [the same as H8005 (שִׁלֵּם - retribution)]

1. Shillem, an Israelite

Shillem

The same as shillem; Shillem, an Israelite -- Shillem.

see HEBREW shillem

Word Origin
from shalem
Definition
a man of Naphtali
NASB Translation
Shillem (2).

II. שִׁלֵּם proper name, masculine in Naphtali Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:49; Συλλημ, Σελλη(μ).

Identity and Lineage

Shillem is the fourth-named son of Naphtali, Jacob’s sixth son and second by Bilhah. Through Shillem came the clan known as the Shillemites, one of the four Naphtalite families that formed part of the nation of Israel. His inclusion in the inspired genealogies underscores how every branch of the covenant family is known and recorded by God.

Occurrences and Context

1. Genesis 46:24 lists Shillem among the sixty-six persons who journeyed with Jacob into Egypt: “The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.”
2. Numbers 26:49 records the clan in the wilderness census: “of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.”

These two mentions frame the history of the Shillemites from their arrival in Egypt to the threshold of Canaan. Their presence in both registers attests to God’s preservation during four centuries of bondage and the trials of the Exodus.

Historical Significance

• Migration to Egypt: Shillem’s name appears in the list that secured Israel’s legal right to settle in Goshen. That same roster became the basis for tribal identity when Moses led the people out (Exodus 1:1-4).
• Wilderness Census: In the second census, the tribe of Naphtali numbered 45,400 fighting men (Numbers 26:50). Although Numbers gives no separate total for each clan, every Shillemite was counted, showing that Shillem’s line had not been lost despite judgments that fell on the Exodus generation.
• Inheritance in Canaan: Joshua 19:32-39 describes Naphtali’s allotment in Galilee, a region later blessed by the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:13-16). Thus descendants of Shillem eventually lived in the land where the “people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2; cf. Matthew 4:16).

Theological Themes

1. Divine Memory of Individuals: The name Shillem occurs only twice, yet Scripture preserves it forever. This reflects the Lord’s care for “those who fear Him” whose names are written in His book (Malachi 3:16).
2. Covenant Continuity: From patriarchal tents to Egyptian bondage, from Sinai to the Plains of Moab, the Shillemites remained part of the covenant people, illustrating that God “keeps His faithfulness to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
3. Corporate Identity within Diversity: Each clan contributed to Israel’s encampment and march. Naphtali camped on the north side with Dan and Asher (Numbers 2:25-31). Though Shillem was one branch, its survival was essential for the symmetry God ordained for His people.

Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship

• Value of Every Believer: Just as the Holy Spirit recorded the name of Shillem, leaders today must remember that every member of Christ’s body is significant (1 Corinthians 12:22-24).
• Stewardship of Heritage: The Shillemites received and passed on their inheritance. Churches and families are called to preserve and transmit the faith “once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).
• Hope through Generations: The account that began with Shillem culminated, in part, with the light of the Gospel shining in Naphtali’s territory. Ministry that seems small now may bear fruit centuries later, underlining the promise that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Summary

Shillem stands as a modest yet meaningful thread in the tapestry of redemptive history. His recorded name affirms the precision of Scripture, the reliability of God’s promises, and the enduring worth of each believer’s place in the covenant community.

וְשִׁלֵּֽם׃ ושלם׃ לְשִׁלֵּ֕ם לשלם lə·šil·lêm leshilLem ləšillêm veshilLem wə·šil·lêm wəšillêmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts