בַּת־שׁוּעַ (bat-shu.a)
bat-shu.a
Bath-shua
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Bath-shua appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 3:5, where it serves as an alternative spelling for Bathsheba. While the more familiar form Bat-sheva is used throughout the narrative of King David’s reign, this variant highlights a specific textual tradition regarding the mother of Solomon. The name itself likely means "daughter of wealth" or "daughter of opulence," reflecting her status within the royal court.
Lexical sources identify this figure as the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah before becoming David’s spouse. Although the narrative details in 2 Samuel focus on her relationship with David, the Chronicles passage records her children—Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—under this specific name variant. This single occurrence does not suggest a different person, but rather illustrates how ancient scribes sometimes recorded proper names using phonetic variations or distinct orthographic conventions.
The existence of two spellings for the same individual offers insight into the transmission of biblical texts. It shows that even within the canonical record, names could be rendered differently without altering identity. For readers studying the lineage of David’s kingship, recognizing Bath-shua as Bathsheba ensures a complete understanding of the royal genealogy presented in Chronicles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bath-shua appears only once in Scripture, recorded in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 3:5. This variant spelling for Bathsheba reminds us that God’s record-keeping is precise yet flexible. Ancient scribes used different phonetic forms to write the same names, showing that identity remains intact even when spelling shifts. For readers tracing David’s lineage, this detail confirms the continuity of the royal line without confusion.
While the narrative in 2 Samuel focuses on Bathsheba’s personal story with David, Chronicles highlights her role as the mother of Solomon and other sons. This single mention underscores how God preserves history through multiple textual traditions. It invites us to trust that every detail, however small, serves a purpose in revealing His faithfulness across generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ Bath-1×
- -shua1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שׁ֖וּעַ1×
- לְ/בַת\־1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 3:5
and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four, by Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;
This verse uniquely uses the spelling Bath-shua to identify the mother of Solomon, linking her to Ammiel and confirming her place in David's royal lineage.