שֶׁנְאַצַּר
Shenatstsar, an Israelite
Definition
Shenatstsar is a proper name of an Israelite mentioned only once in the Old Testament. He is listed as one of the sons of King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin), who was taken into Babylonian exile (1 Chronicles 3:18). The name appears in a genealogy of the Davidic line, specifically among the descendants born during or after the exile. As a proper name, it has no other semantic senses or meanings in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in 1 Chronicles 3:18, within a genealogical list. It functions solely as a personal name, identifying one individual among the post-exilic descendants of the Davidic king Jehoiachin. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it occurs only this single time.
Etymology
The name Shenatstsar is noted as being 'apparently of Babylonian origin.' This suggests it was adopted or given during the Israelite exile in Babylon, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influence of that period. The exact Babylonian root and meaning are uncertain, but it is typical of names borne by Israelites in the diaspora, blending their heritage with their new context.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its placement in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3 is significant. It appears in the lineage of David, a line carrying the messianic promise. The presence of a Babylonian-derived name among Jehoiachin's sons subtly underscores the reality of the exile—a period of judgment—while also showing God's faithfulness in preserving the royal line even in a foreign land, maintaining the continuity for the future Messiah.
The name reflects the historical context of the Babylonian exile (6th century BC). Israelites in captivity often adopted or were given names with Babylonian elements, indicating cultural assimilation and foreign domination. This practice makes Shenatstsar a tangible marker of that era, distinguishing him from ancestors with purely Hebrew names.
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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