שִׁישָׁא (shi.sah)
shi.sah
Shisha
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 Shisha refers to a specific official during the United Monarchy, primarily noted in 1 Kings 4:3 as one of Solomon’s royal secretaries. The sources identify him as the father of Elihoreph and Ahijah, both of whom also served in high administrative roles. This individual appears under multiple names across the biblical record, including Shavsha in 1 Chronicles 18:16 and Sheva in 2 Samuel 20:25, suggesting these are variant traditions or textual forms for the same historical figure.
The meaning of the name is given as "Jehovah contends," a theophoric element common in Israelite naming practices that acknowledges divine involvement. While the text provides limited biographical detail beyond his office and family, its presence highlights the complexity of biblical transmission, where a single person can be recorded with different names in parallel accounts or manuscript traditions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shisha appears in the biblical record as a royal secretary under King Solomon. His sons, Elihoreph and Ahijah, also held significant positions, indicating that administrative roles were often passed down within families during this period. This detail offers a glimpse into the structure of Solomon’s government, where trusted officials managed the kingdom’s affairs.
Interestingly, this same individual is referred to by different names in parallel accounts—Shavsha in 1 Chronicles and Sheva in 2 Samuel. These variations highlight how ancient texts were transmitted and preserved over time. Rather than diminishing the reliability of Scripture, such nuances remind us that biblical authors drew from diverse sources to present a fuller picture of history.
For readers today, this word invites reflection on the complexity of biblical transmission. It encourages humility in interpretation while affirming the care with which these records were maintained. Whether studying ancient governance or tracing textual variants, we find that Scripture engages with real people and historical contexts, grounding our faith in tangible reality.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shisha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁישָׁ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 4:3
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
This verse identifies Shisha as the father of two royal scribes, highlighting his role within Solomon’s administrative structure.