Bible Word Study
שִׁישַׁק
Shîyshaq · Shishak, an Egyptian king
שִׁישַׁק
Shishak, an Egyptian king
Definition
Shishak is the biblical name for the Egyptian pharaoh Sheshonq I, founder of the 22nd Dynasty, who reigned c. 945–924 BC. In the Bible, he is primarily known for providing asylum to Jeroboam when he fled from King Solomon (1 Kings 11:40) and, more significantly, for invading the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. This invasion, recorded in 1 Kings 14:25-26 and 2 Chronicles 12:2-9, resulted in the plundering of the treasures from the temple and royal palace in Jerusalem, fulfilling a prophetic warning about the consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness.
Biblical Usage
The name Shishak is used exclusively in historical narratives concerning the divided monarchy. It appears six times, with the first mention establishing his role as a political refuge (1 Kings 11:40). The subsequent five references all detail his military campaign against Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chronicles 12:2, 5, 7, 9). The usage is consistent, identifying him solely as 'Shishak king of Egypt,' the foreign ruler who executed a major judgment against Judah.
Etymology
The Hebrew שִׁישַׁק (Shîyshaq) is a transliteration of the Egyptian name 'Sheshonq.' The variant spelling שׁוּשַׁק (Shûshaq) found in some manuscripts reflects the same origin. It is a proper name borrowed directly from Egyptian, with no inherent meaning in Hebrew, similar to how modern languages adopt foreign names.
Semantic Range
Shishak's invasion is a critical event demonstrating God's covenant faithfulness in judgment. The campaign is explicitly framed as God's response to Judah's abandonment of His law (2 Chronicles 12:2). The prophet Shemaiah declares that because the leaders humbled themselves, the destruction would be limited, teaching that God's discipline is measured and aims at repentance (2 Chronicles 12:7). Understanding Shishak's role enriches reading by showing how God used a pagan king as an instrument of discipline, yet also of mercy, within salvation history. Shishak is identified with Pharaoh Sheshonq I, whose own inscriptions at Karnak record a campaign into Canaan, corroborating the biblical account. In the ancient Near East, such invasions were common for asserting dominance and acquiring wealth. For Judah, the loss of the temple treasures plundered by Shishak (1 Kings 14:26) was not just a financial and military blow but a profound national and religious humiliation, symbolizing the departure of God's favor and protection due to sin. פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — The general Hebrew title for the ruler of Egypt, while Shishak is the specific name of one pharaoh.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]