שִׁנְאָב
Shinab, a Canaanite
Definition
Shinab is the name of a Canaanite king mentioned in Genesis 14:2. He was the king of Admah, one of the five cities of the plain that rebelled against Chedorlaomer. As a proper noun, it refers solely to this individual. The name appears only in the context of the war of the kings, where he is listed among the rebellious rulers who were subsequently defeated. No other meanings or senses are attested in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 14:2. It is used in a historical narrative listing the kings who allied against Chedorlaomer. The usage is purely referential, identifying a specific person within a list of regional rulers. There are no patterns of usage, as it is a unique personal name.
Etymology
The name Shinab (שִׁנְאָב) is likely derived from the Hebrew root שָׁנָא (H8132), meaning 'to change' or 'to be different,' and אָב (H1), meaning 'father.' A common proposed meaning is 'the father has turned' or 'the father has changed.' This suggests a name possibly expressing a hope for change or a new beginning, which is typical of many Semitic personal names.
Semantic Range
While Shinab himself is a minor figure, his inclusion is theologically significant. He is part of the coalition of kings from the cities of the plain (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela/Zoar), whose defeat sets the stage for Abram's rescue of Lot in Genesis 14. This narrative highlights God's providential care for Abram and his family amidst regional conflicts, foreshadowing the later judgment on these same cities in Genesis 19. Understanding the name's potential meaning ('father has changed') may subtly contrast the faithfulness of Abram, who followed God's call, with the instability of these Canaanite kingdoms.
As a king of Admah, Shinab represents the political structure of Canaanite city-states during the patriarchal period. His name follows a common Northwest Semitic naming convention, combining a divine element or descriptor with a familial term like 'ab' (father). This reflects a cultural context where personal names often carried religious or aspirational meaning. His role as a vassal rebelling against a superior king (Chedorlaomer) illustrates the volatile political alliances and power struggles typical of the ancient Near East.
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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