שַׁוְשָׁא (shav.sah)
shav.sah
Shavsha
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 Shavsha, meaning nobility, appears in the historical records of Israel’s United Monarchy as a variant spelling for the royal scribe and secretary who served King David. This official is first identified in 2 Samuel 8:17 and reappears under this form in 1 Chronicles 18:16, where he is listed alongside his sons Elihoreph and Ahijah.
While most biblical texts refer to this same high-ranking administrator as Sheva or Shisha, the Chronicler’s use of Shavsha highlights a specific textual tradition. The sources note that this name may also be another designation for Seraiah, linking the scribe to priestly lines. His role involved managing the king’s administrative affairs, a position of significant trust and influence during David’s reign.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shavsha appears in the historical records of Israel’s United Monarchy, specifically as a variant spelling for the royal scribe who served King David. This official held a position of significant trust and influence, managing the king's administrative affairs alongside high-ranking priests like Zadok. The Chronicler’s use of this specific form highlights the careful preservation of textual traditions within Scripture.
For your faith, this detail reminds us that God uses ordinary roles to sustain His people. A scribe’s work was not merely clerical but essential to the stability of the kingdom. It shows that integrity in service, whether in high office or quiet duties, matters deeply to God. We can find encouragement in knowing that faithful stewardship in our daily tasks is part of a larger divine narrative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Shavsha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/שַׁוְשָׁ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 18:16
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
This verse places Shavsha directly alongside the chief priests, indicating his high status and the critical nature of his administrative role in David's court.