שׁוֹבַךְ (sho.vakh)
sho.vakh
Shobach
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Shobach, or its variant Shophach, identifies an Aramaean military commander who served King Hadarezer of Zobah during the reign of David. The sources indicate that his name means "expansion," a meaning that stands in contrast to the defeat he suffered. He is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:16 as the general assembled by Hadarezer to confront Israel after their king defeated the Ammonites.
This figure appears in two parallel accounts of the same campaign, appearing as Shobach in 2 Samuel and as Shophach in 1 Chronicles 19. In both narratives, he leads a massive coalition force against David’s army. The biblical text records that Joab, leading Israel’s troops, defeated this Aramaean army, killing Shobach himself in the process (2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Chronicles 19:18). His death marked a turning point that secured Israel’s dominance in the region for a time.
While Shobach is not a theological term but a proper noun, his presence highlights the geopolitical tensions of the United Monarchy. The fact that Hadarezer sent his entire army under one commander suggests the seriousness with which David’s rise was viewed by neighboring powers. The parallel accounts in Samuel and Chronicles confirm the historical memory of this defeat, preserving the name of a general who fell in battle against Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shobach appears in the historical records of King David’s reign, specifically as a military commander for the Aramean king Hadadezer. His story is recorded in two parallel accounts: 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19. In these texts, he leads a large coalition force against Israel, only to be defeated and killed in battle. While his name may mean "expansion," his narrative ends with defeat, highlighting the limits of human power compared to divine sovereignty.
For readers today, Shobach serves as a reminder that earthly strength is fleeting. The biblical writer includes these details not to glorify war, but to show how God established David’s kingdom amidst geopolitical tensions. We see that no matter how large an army or how powerful a commander, they cannot stand against the purposes of God. This historical account invites us to trust in God’s ultimate authority over all nations and leaders.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Shobach1×
- Shobach1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שׁוֹבַ֧ךְ1×
- וְ/שׁוֹבַ֛ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 10:16
Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
This verse introduces Shobach as the captain of Hadadezer's army, showing the seriousness with which neighboring powers viewed David’s rise.
-
II Samuel 10:18
The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there.
Here the text records Shobach’s death, marking a turning point that secured Israel’s dominance in the region under God’s guidance.