Who was Shenazzar in the Bible?

Shenazzar was a prince of Judah, a son of King Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah), born during the Babylonian Exile. He is listed among the descendants of the exiled royal line in 1 Chronicles 3:18.

Why is Shenazzar significant in the Bible?

Shenazzar is significant because he represents the continuation of King David's royal lineage during the captivity. His inclusion in the genealogy (1 Chronicles 3:17-18) shows God preserving the line through which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would eventually come.

What happened to Shenazzar in the Bible?

The Bible only records Shenazzar's birth and lineage; no specific events from his life are detailed. He was born in exile after his father, King Jehoiachin, was taken captive to Babylon (2 Kings 24:15).

Shenazzar

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKing

Shenazzar, a descendant of King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) of Judah, born during the Babylonian captivity.

Shenazzar

Biography

Shenazzar was a son of Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin), the king of Judah taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC, and is listed in the royal genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3:18. Born during the Babylonian exile, Shenazzar was a member of the Davidic royal line that continued even in captivity, preserving the seed of Judah's kingship through one of the darkest periods in Israel's history. Some scholars have proposed an identification of Shenazzar with Sheshbazzar, the Judahite prince mentioned in Ezra 1:8 who led the first wave of returnees from Babylon and oversaw the initial work of rebuilding the Jerusalem temple, though this identification remains debated.

Significance

Shenazzar's place in the Davidic genealogy during the Babylonian exile carries profound theological weight. His very existence testifies to God's faithfulness in preserving the royal line of David, the line through which the messianic promise was to be fulfilled (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Even in the depths of exile, the Davidic seed was not extinguished. If the identification with Sheshbazzar is accepted, Shenazzar becomes a figure of restoration, the first to carry the sacred temple vessels back to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:11), symbolizing the reversal of exile and the renewal of covenant community. Either way, his lineage anchors the messianic hope that culminates in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12).

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 3:18

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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