שַׁוְשָׁא
Shavsha, an Israelite
Definition
Shavsha is a proper name given to an individual in the Old Testament, specifically identified as the royal scribe during the reign of King David. The name itself carries the meaning of 'joyful' or 'joyous,' derived from its root. In the biblical record, Shavsha is listed among the high officials of David's administration, holding the important position of secretary or recorder (1 Chronicles 18:16). This single reference provides the entirety of our scriptural knowledge about this person, with no further narrative details about his life or actions provided elsewhere in the Bible.
Biblical Usage
The name Shavsha is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 18:16. It appears in a list of King David's chief officials, identifying him as 'Shavsha the scribe.' The context is purely administrative and genealogical, documenting the structure of David's royal court. There are no patterns of usage, as it is a unique personal name attached to a single historical figure in a specific historical record.
Etymology
The name Shavsha (שַׁוְשָׁא) is derived from the Hebrew root שׂוּשׂ (sûs, H7797), which means 'to rejoice,' 'to be glad,' or 'to exult.' It is a proper noun formed from this root, essentially meaning 'joyful one.' This connects it to other words expressing joy and celebration in biblical Hebrew.
Semantic Range
As a personal name meaning 'joyful,' Shavsha's name reflects a common Hebrew practice of using positive attributes or statements about God in naming children. His role as 'the scribe' (הַסּוֹפֵר) was a position of significant trust and authority in the royal court. The scribe was not merely a copyist but a senior secretary of state, responsible for official correspondence, record-keeping, and possibly advising the king. This places Shavsha among the highest-ranking civil servants in the united monarchy of Israel.
שִׂמְחָה (simchah, H8057) — A more common noun for 'joy,' 'gladness,' or 'mirth,' whereas Shavsha is a proper name derived from a verbal root for rejoicing.
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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