Original Word: שְׁפָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shpham
Pronunciation: SHEH-fahm
Phonetic Spelling: (shef-awm')
KJV: Shepham
NASB: Shepham
Word Origin: [probably from H8192 (שָׁפָה - bare)]

1. bare spot
2. Shepham, a place in or near Israel

Shepham

Probably from shaphah; bare spot; Shepham, a place in or near Palestine -- Shepham.

see HEBREW shaphah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a place on the E. border of Isr.
NASB Translation
Shepham (2).

שְׁפָם proper name, of a location on east border of Israel; ׳שׁ Numbers 34:10, שְׁפָ֫מָה Numbers 34:11; ᵐ5 Σαπφαμαρ; site unknown.

שֻׁמִּם see שֻׁמִּים below שׁפף.

Biblical References

Numbers 34:10–11

Geographical Setting

Shepham marks a point on the eastern frontier of the land promised to Israel west of the Jordan. Moses instructs, “For your eastern border you are to draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham” (Numbers 34:10). From there the frontier “will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain” (Numbers 34:11) before turning southward toward the Sea of Chinnereth and the Jordan Valley. Hazar-enan lies in the far north near the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon range, while Riblah and Ain belong to the region east of modern Lebanon and western Syria. Shepham therefore appears to have stood somewhere along the western edge of today’s Syrian Desert, acting as a pivot between the northern highlands and the Jordan rift.

Historical Context

The boundary instructions of Numbers 34 were delivered in the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan. By naming fixed points such as Shepham, the LORD provided the tribes with an unambiguous inheritance map before any campaign commenced. This ensured that the apportioning of territory would not rest on human negotiation but on divine decree, safeguarding unity among the tribes once the land was settled (compare Joshua 18).

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Certainty: Specifying Shepham and other sites underscored that God’s promise of land was precise and verifiable, not vague or symbolic.
2. Divine Order: Exact borders reveal that God values structure and accountability. Israel’s tenure was to be lived within clearly defined limits, teaching that freedom under God is never boundary-less.
3. Anticipation of Rest: By outlining the eastern edge, the LORD invited the people to envision a completed conquest that would culminate in rest from wandering (Hebrews 4:8–10 reflects the same theme).

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Stewardship of Place: Just as Israel was called to inhabit a defined territory, believers are called to serve faithfully within the spheres God assigns (2 Corinthians 10:13).
• Respect for Boundaries: The mention of Shepham reminds modern readers that honoring God-ordained limits—moral, relational, and vocational—protects community health.
• Unity through Clarity: Clear expectations avert dispute. Churches and ministries strengthen fellowship when responsibilities and doctrine are delineated with Scriptural precision.

Archaeological and Scholarly Notes

Shepham’s exact location remains unidentified. Proposals range from sites north-east of the Hauran to locations bordering the steppe leading toward Palmyra. The absence of physical remains does not diminish its value; the textual witness itself secures Shepham’s place in the historical geography of Israel.

Related Topical Links

Hazar-enan; Riblah; Ain; Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee); Borders of the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 23:31; Ezekiel 47:15–20)

Summary

Though appearing only twice in Scripture, Shepham serves as a landmark of covenant fidelity, illustrating God’s meticulous care in granting Israel a homeland and offering enduring lessons on order, stewardship, and unity for the people of God today.

מִשְּׁפָ֛ם משפם שְׁפָֽמָה׃ שפמה׃ miš·šə·p̄ām mishsheFam miššəp̄ām šə·p̄ā·māh šəp̄āmāh sheFamahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts