שִׁישַׁק (shi.shaq)
shi.shaq
Shishak
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The proper noun Shishak refers to Sheshonk I, the first king of Egypt’s Twenty-second Dynasty, who ruled during the late tenth century BCE. In the Hebrew Bible, this name appears in six verses, primarily within the historical accounts of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. The sources identify him as a contemporary of Solomon and Rehoboam, marking him not merely as a background figure but as a significant political actor in the region’s history.
Etymological notes in the lexica suggest the name may mean "greedy of fine linen," though this is presented as a traditional interpretation rather than a definitive linguistic fact. His biblical narrative centers on his military campaign against Judah after Solomon’s death. According to 2 Chronicles 12, he attacked Jerusalem and seized treasures from the temple and the royal palace, establishing a tributary relationship with Rehoboam. This event highlights the vulnerability of the newly divided kingdom to powerful Egyptian influence.
Identifying Shishak with the historical Pharaoh Sheshonk I allows readers to connect biblical text with external archaeological records, such as the relief at Karnak that lists captured cities in Canaan. The name serves as a concrete anchor for the political turbulence following the United Monarchy, illustrating how international powers shaped the fate of Israel’s kings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shishak appears in the Bible not as a theological concept, but as a historical reality. He was the Egyptian pharaoh who invaded Judah during the reign of Rehoboam. This event reminds us that the people of God lived in a complex world where political powers often threatened their stability. The biblical text records this invasion with clear cause and effect: spiritual unfaithfulness led to external consequences.
Yet the story does not end in total destruction. When the leaders of Judah humbled themselves, God promised deliverance. Shishak took the gold shields Solomon had made, but he did not destroy Jerusalem or its people. This shows that even when we face difficult circumstances or loss due to our own choices, God’s mercy can limit the damage. It is a reminder that humility opens the door to grace, even in the midst of judgment.
For your faith today, this word connects history with hope. It teaches that while we cannot control foreign powers or sudden changes in our lives, we can choose how we respond to God. When things fall apart, turning back to Him is always the first step toward restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shishak7×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁישַׁ֥ק3×
- שִׁישָֽׁק\׃2×
- שִׁישָׁ֑ק1×
- שִׁישַׁ֣ק1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 14:25
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;
This verse establishes Shishak as the active agent of invasion against Jerusalem in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign.
-
II Chronicles 12:5
Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
Here the prophet Shemaiah explains that God allowed Shishak to succeed because Judah had forsaken Him.
-
II Chronicles 12:7
When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
This occurrence marks the turning point where God sees their humility and promises to spare Jerusalem from total destruction by Shishak's hand.
-
II Chronicles 12:9
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
It details the specific loss of Solomon's gold shields, showing that while the kingdom was spared, it still suffered significant material and symbolic defeat.