שׁוֹבָב
Shobab, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Shobab is a proper noun, the name of two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The first Shobab is listed as a son of King David, born to him in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:14, 1 Chronicles 14:4). The second Shobab appears in the genealogy of Judah as a son of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:18). The name itself carries the underlying meaning of 'rebellious' or 'apostate,' derived from its root. While the biblical text does not record specific narratives about either man's character, the meaning of their name stands in potential contrast to their lineage, especially for David's son who was part of the royal, messianic line.
Biblical Usage
The name Shobab is used exclusively in genealogical lists within the historical books of Samuel and Chronicles. It appears four times, always to identify a person within a family lineage. In 2 Samuel 5:14 and the parallel 1 Chronicles 14:4, Shobab is named among the sons born to David after he established his capital in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 2:18 and 3:5, the name appears in two different genealogical records tracing the descendants of Judah and David, respectively.
Etymology
The name Shobab (שׁוֹבָב) is identical to the Hebrew adjective H7726 (shobab), meaning 'backsliding,' 'rebellious,' or 'apostate.' It is derived from the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning 'to turn back' or 'to return.' Thus, the name linguistically signifies one who turns away or is characterized by rebellion.
Semantic Range
While the individuals named Shobab are not central theological figures, the meaning of the name offers a subtle point of reflection. Its meaning, 'rebellious,' is attached to members of the divinely chosen lineage of Judah and David. This serves as a reminder that God's covenant promises and the messianic line (Romans 1:3) were carried through imperfect, ordinary people. The name can prompt consideration of God's grace in using flawed human instruments to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaning related to circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or perceived character. A name meaning 'rebellious' might reflect a difficult birth, a parental prayer for the child to avoid such a path, or perhaps a descriptive nickname that became fixed. Its use in official royal and tribal genealogies shows that names with potentially negative connotations were still formally recorded, indicating the importance of accurate lineage over the aesthetic meaning of a name.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. Its root meaning relates to: shobab (שׁוֹבָב, H7726) — the adjective meaning 'backsliding' or 'rebellious,' from which the name is derived.
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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