שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל (she.al.ti.el)
she.al.ti.el
Shealtiel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shealtiel, meaning "I have asked of God," identifies a Judahite man who lived during the Babylonian Exile and Return. First mentioned in 1 Chronicles 3:17, he is recorded as the eldest son of King Jehoiachin. His genealogy places him within the royal line that survived the destruction of Jerusalem, linking the pre-exilic monarchy to the post-exilic community.
Scripture presents a notable variation in his family role. While 1 Chronicles lists him as the father of Zerubbabel, Ezra 5:2 and Haggai 1:1 refer to Zerubbabel as the son of Pedaiah, Shealtiel’s brother. This discrepancy suggests that Shealtiel may have died without male heirs, leading his brother Pedaiah to raise Zerubbabel in his father’s name, or that the text uses "son" in a broader familial sense. The sources note this tension but do not resolve it definitively.
Despite appearing in only one verse as a primary subject (Ezra 5:2), Shealtiel serves as a crucial link between the Davidic kings and the leaders of the restoration. His name reflects a theology of petition, acknowledging God as the source of his lineage’s survival. The text preserves his memory primarily through these genealogical connections rather than personal deeds.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shealtiel means "I have asked of God," a quiet testimony to the power of prayer during dark times. Living through the Babylonian Exile, this Judahite man represents a lineage that refused to vanish despite the destruction of Jerusalem. His story reminds us that our faithfulness often lies in simply holding on, trusting that God hears the petitions of those who wait for Him.
Though he appears briefly in Scripture, his legacy endures through his family line. Whether viewed as the biological father or the legal forebear of Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s name connects the royal past to the rebuilding efforts of the present. It shows that God preserves history and people even when circumstances seem hopeless.
When you feel your prayers are unanswered or your future uncertain, remember that God remembers those who ask of Him. Your life, like Shealtiel’s, may be part of a larger story that only God fully sees. Rest in the knowledge that He is faithful to His promises across generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shealtiel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:2
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
This verse identifies Zerubbabel as the son of Shealtiel, highlighting how the name links the exiled royal line to the leadership that began rebuilding the temple.