שׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵא (shu.shan.khi)
shu.shan.khi
Susa
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The term shushanchai refers to the people of Susa, a major city in ancient Persia. The word functions as a gentilic noun, identifying inhabitants by their place of origin rather than describing a specific ethnic group or religious sect. Its root connects directly to the city name Susa (shushan), which carries the meaning "lily," likely referencing the region’s flora or perhaps a palace garden feature.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within Ezra 4:9. In that context, it is part of a list of foreign officials and settlers who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The mention highlights the political tension between the returning exiles and the established populations of the Persian Empire, illustrating how local identities were recorded in official correspondence.
Translators typically render this term as "Susa" or "Susians," keeping the focus on geography. Because it occurs in a historical narrative about imperial administration, the word serves primarily to locate events rather than convey theological instruction. It reminds readers that the restoration of Jerusalem happened within a complex, multicultural political landscape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shushanchai identifies the people of Susa, a significant city in ancient Persia. Its appearance in Ezra 4:9 places the rebuilding of Jerusalem within a complex political landscape. This single occurrence reminds us that faith often unfolds amidst diverse cultures and imperial powers.
While the text records opposition from these neighbors, it also shows God’s presence in historical realities. The mention of Susa highlights how local identities intersected with divine purposes. We can find comfort knowing that our own contexts, however complicated, are known to God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Susanchites/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔/א1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:9
Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
This verse lists the Susians among other groups opposing the rebuilding, showing how local identities influenced the political challenges faced by the returning exiles.