שִׁנְאָב (shin.av)
shin.av
Shinab
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Shinab is a proper name appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, at Genesis 14:2. He is identified as the king of Admah during the time of the Patriarchs. The text lists him among several regional rulers who joined a coalition against the kings of the Dead Sea plain.
The etymology of the name is often interpreted as "splendour of the father." This meaning reflects a common pattern in ancient Near Eastern naming, where personal or royal titles invoked familial honor or divine favor. As a title, it would have signaled status and lineage to contemporary listeners.
Its single occurrence places Shinab in a specific historical snapshot rather than a broader narrative arc. He serves as one of the many political figures mentioned in the account of Abraham’s military campaign. The brevity of his mention highlights the scale of the conflict, where numerous minor kings were swept into the drama of larger powers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Genesis 14:2 lists Shinab among a coalition of kings who gathered for war. This brief mention places him in a specific historical snapshot, showing how regional leaders interacted during the time of the Patriarchs. The name itself likely meant "splendour of the father," reflecting a common ancient Near Eastern pattern where titles invoked familial honor or divine favor.
While Shinab appears only once in Scripture, his inclusion highlights the scale of the conflict described in Genesis 14. Numerous minor kings were swept into the drama of larger powers, illustrating the complex political landscape of the ancient world. For readers today, these details ground the biblical narrative in real history, reminding us that God’s promises unfold within actual human events and relationships.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shinab1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁנְאָ֣ב\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 14:2
they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).
This verse identifies Shinab as king of Admah and lists him among the rulers who joined a coalition against the kings of the Dead Sea plain.