שָׁפָן
a species of rockrabbit (from its hiding), i.e. probably the hyrax
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׁפָן refers to a small, rock-dwelling mammal, most likely the hyrax (Procavia capensis), also known as the rock badger or coney. It is described in the Torah as a land animal that chews the cud but does not have a divided hoof, making it ritually unclean for consumption (Leviticus 11:5, Deuteronomy 14:7). Beyond its zoological classification, the word is also used as a personal name, most notably for Shaphan the scribe, a key figure during King Josiah's reign who helped facilitate the discovery and reading of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:3-14).
Biblical Usage
The word is used in two primary contexts. First, it appears in the legal portions of the Torah (Leviticus 11:5, Deuteronomy 14:7) as an example of an unclean animal. Second, it functions as the name of a person—Shaphan the scribe—and his family members in the historical books, particularly in 2 Kings 22 and Jeremiah 36. In these narratives, Shaphan is portrayed as a trustworthy royal official involved in significant religious reforms.
Etymology
Derived from the root שָׂפַן (śāphan, H8226), meaning 'to hide' or 'conceal.' This root aptly describes the animal's behavior of hiding in the crevices of rocks. The name Shaphan likely carries this connotation of 'hidden' or 'protected.'
Semantic Range
The שָׁפָן illustrates the detailed care in the biblical dietary laws, which distinguished between clean and unclean animals as part of Israel's call to holiness (Leviticus 11:44-45). Its inclusion teaches that holiness involves careful observation and obedience to God's distinctions in creation. Furthermore, the person Shaphan represents faithful service and the pivotal role of godly officials in preserving and implementing God's word during national renewal.
Ancient Israelites would have been familiar with the hyrax as a common sight in the rocky terrain of the region. Modern readers might mistake it for a rodent, but it is a unique species. Its biological trait of appearing to 'chew the cud' (a rumination-like motion) while lacking a divided hoof made it a perfect, observable example for the Levitical law's categories, which were based on visible characteristics.
אַרְנֶבֶת (’arnevet, H768) — hare/rabbit; also listed as unclean but a distinct animal. צְבִי (ṣᵉḇî, H6643) — gazelle; a clean, hoofed animal for contrast. תַּחַשׁ (taḥaš, H8476) — a likely badger or dolphin, used for tabernacle coverings.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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