Topical Encyclopedia
Shephatiah is a name found in the Old Testament, meaning "Yahweh has judged" or "Yahweh is the judge." This name is associated with several individuals throughout the biblical narrative, each playing distinct roles in the history of Israel and Judah.
1.
Shephatiah, Son of David: Shephatiah is listed as one of the sons of King David. He was born to David's wife Abital. In
2 Samuel 3:4 , it is recorded: "The fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital." His mention in the genealogical records highlights the extensive lineage of David, though little else is detailed about his life or deeds.
2.
Shephatiah, Son of Maachah: Another Shephatiah is noted as the son of Maachah, a leader of the Simeonites. In
1 Chronicles 27:16 , he is mentioned as one of the tribal leaders during the reign of King David: "Over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maachah." This Shephatiah was responsible for overseeing the affairs of the tribe of Simeon, indicating his role in the administrative structure of David's kingdom.
3.
Shephatiah, Son of Mattan: In the time of the prophet Jeremiah, Shephatiah the son of Mattan is mentioned as one of the officials who opposed Jeremiah. In
Jeremiah 38:1-4 , Shephatiah is among those who heard Jeremiah's prophecies and sought to have him put to death, accusing him of demoralizing the soldiers and the people: "Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people." This Shephatiah's actions reflect the political and religious tensions of the time, as he resisted the prophetic message that called for submission to Babylon.
4.
Shephatiah, Ancestor of Returnees: In the post-exilic period, a group of returnees from Babylonian captivity is identified with the name Shephatiah.
Ezra 2:4 lists the descendants of Shephatiah among those who returned to Jerusalem: "the descendants of Shephatiah, 372." This reference underscores the continuity of certain family lines and their role in the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple.
5.
Shephatiah, Son of Mahalalel: In
Nehemiah 11:4 , Shephatiah is mentioned as a descendant of Judah who resided in Jerusalem after the exile: "And some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem: From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez." This Shephatiah is part of the genealogical record that highlights the repopulation and reestablishment of Jerusalem as a center of Jewish life and worship.
The various individuals named Shephatiah in the Bible illustrate the diverse roles and historical contexts in which they lived, from the royal lineage of David to the administrative and religious challenges faced during the prophetic and post-exilic periods. Each mention of Shephatiah contributes to the broader narrative of Israel's history and God's unfolding plan for His people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Shephatiahthe Lord that judges
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Shephatiah(judged by Jehovah).
- The fifth son of David. (2 Samuel 3:4;1 Chronicles 3:3) (B.C. about 1050.)
- The family of Shephatiah, 372 in number, returned with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:4;Nehemiah 7:9) see also Ezra 8:8 (B.C. 536.)
- The family of another Shephatiah, who came up with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:4)
- A descendant of Judah. (Nehemiah 11:4)
- One of the princes of Judah who counselled Zedekiah to put Jeremiah in the dungeon. (Jeremiah 38:1) (B.C. 589.)
- One of the Benjamite warriors who joined David in his retreat at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:5) (B.C. 1054.)
- Chief of the Simeonites in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 37:16)
- Son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 21:2) (B.C. 887.)
ATS Bible Dictionary
ShephatiahThe name of seven distinguished Jews, alluded to in the following passages:2 Samuel 3:41 Chronicles 12:5 27:162 Chronicles 21:2Ezra 2:4,57Nehemiah 11:4Jeremiah 38:1.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Judged of the Lord.
(1.) A son of David by Abital (2 Samuel 3:4).
(2.) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:5).
(3.) A Simeonite prince in David's time (1 Chronicles 27:16).
(4.) One of Jehoshaphat's sons (2 Chronicles 21:2).
(5.)Ezra 2:4.
(6.)Ezra 2:57;Nehemiah 7:59.
(7.) One of the princes who urged the putting of Jeremiah to death (Jeremiah 38:1-4).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SHEPHATIAHshef-a-ti'-a, she-fat'-ya (shephaTyah, "Yah has judged"):
(1) A son of David, by Abital (2 Samuel 3:41 Chronicles 3:3).
(2) A Benjamite, father of Meshullam, of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:8).
(3) A Benjamite, who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:5).
(4) A prince of the Simeonites in the time of David (1 Chronicles 27:16).
(5) A son of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 21:2).
(6) A family, 372 of whom returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:4Nehemiah 7:9); 80 more males of this family, with their head, returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:8).
(7) A servant of Solomon, 392 of whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:57Nehemiah 7:59 f); "Saphat" in 1 Esdras 5:9 and "Saphatias" in 1 Esdras 8:34.
(8) A Perezzite (Judahite), some of whose descendants dwelt at Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:4).
(9) A son of Mattan, a contemporary of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:1).
James Orr
Strong's Hebrew
8203. Shephatyah -- "Yah has judged," the name of a number of Isr.... Transliteration: Shephatyah or Shephatyahu Phonetic Spelling: (shef-at-yaw') Short
Definition:
Shephatiah.
... NASB Word Usage
Shephatiah (13).
Shephatiah.
...Library
How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... the third was Absalom, by Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth
he named Adonijah, by his wife Haggith; the fifth wasShephatiah, by Abital...
The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... XXXVIII.1. AndShephatiah, Mattan's son, Gedaliah Pashhur's son, Jucal Shelamiah's
son, and Pashhur Malchiah's son,(587) heard the words Jeremiah was speaking...
Thesaurus
Shephatiah (13 Occurrences)... 1-4). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SHEPHATIAH. shef-a
... James Orr.
Multi-Version Concordance
Shephatiah (13 Occurrences). 2 Samuel
...Shephati'ah (12 Occurrences)
...Shephatiah, Shephati'ah. Shephelah .... 2 Samuel 3:4 and the fourth, Adonijah the
son of Haggith; and the fifth,Shephatiah the son of Abital; (See RSV)....
Mattan (3 Occurrences)
... Mary (Matthew 1:15). (3.) The father ofShephatiah (Jeremiah 38:1). Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MATTAN. mat'-an (mattan, "a...
Abital (2 Occurrences)
... list (2 Samuel 3:4 1 Chronicles 3:3) in which the sons born to David in Hebron are
mentioned and numbered, the fifth is said to beShephatiah the son of Abital...
372 (2 Occurrences)
... 372 (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:4 The children ofShephatiah, three hundred
seventy-two.... Nehemiah 7:9 The children ofShephatiah, three hundred seventy-two....
Zebaim (2 Occurrences)
... Zebaim (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:57 the children ofShephatiah, the children of Hattil,
the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami....
Pochereth (2 Occurrences)
... Pochereth (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:57 the children ofShephatiah, the children of
Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami....
Po'chereth-hazzeba'im (2 Occurrences)
... Po'chereth-hazzeba'im (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:57 the children ofShephatiah, the
children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami....
Pochereth-hazzebaim (2 Occurrences)
... Pochereth-hazzebaim (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:57 the children ofShephatiah, the children
of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami....
Pokereth-hazzebaim (2 Occurrences)
... Pokereth-hazzebaim (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:57 the children ofShephatiah, the children
of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami....
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