שָׁפָן (sha.phan)
sha.phan
rock badger; Shaphan
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shaphan refers to the rock badger, also known as the hyrax, a small mammal that lives in rocky crevices throughout the ancient Near East. The Hebrew Bible lists this creature among the animals considered unclean for food in Leviticus 11:5 and Deuteronomy 14:7. Its classification is notable because, despite its size, it appears to chew the cud, a trait that led to its ritual prohibition alongside other animals like the camel and the rabbit.
Shaphan also serves as a personal name in the historical books, most prominently for a scribe who served under King Josiah. This official played a key role in the religious reforms of his time, assisting in the discovery and reading of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:3). The name itself means "coney" or rock badger, likely reflecting a characteristic such as dwelling in hidden places or being careful and cautious.
The dual usage of shaphan highlights how everyday nature provided vocabulary for both ritual law and human identity. Whether describing the animal’s habitat in the rocks or the scribe’s role in preserving sacred texts, the word connects the physical landscape of Israel with its spiritual history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaphan points to two very different sides of life in ancient Israel: the small rock badger hiding in stone crevices and Shaphan the scribe who preserved God’s Word. This creature, listed as unclean because it chews the cud but lacks a split hoof, reminds us that outward appearances can be deceiving. It lives safely in the rocks, finding refuge where others cannot go.
Shaphan the scribe offers a different kind of image. He was not hiding from danger but stepping into the royal court to read the Book of the Law to King Josiah. His careful handling of the text sparked a major religious reform. Both uses show how God works through ordinary details, whether in nature or in faithful people who keep His words safe for future generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shaphan28×
- the/ rock badger2×
- rock badgers1×
- for the/ rock badgers1×
- and/ Shaphan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁפָ֤ן4×
- שָׁפָ֣ן4×
- שָׁפָ֨ן3×
- שָׁפָ֛ן3×
- שָׁפָ֖ן3×
- שָׁפָ֔ן3×
- שָׁפָֽן\׃2×
- שָׁ֠פָן2×
- שָׁפָן֙1×
- שָׁפָֽן\׃\ \פ1×
- שָׁפָ֡ן1×
- שָׁפָ֑ן1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:5
The hyrax, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you.
This verse classifies the rock badger as unclean, highlighting a specific ritual distinction based on its physical traits.
-
II Kings 22:8
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Here Shaphan receives the discovered Book of the Law, marking the moment sacred text enters royal attention.
-
Psalms 104:18
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
The psalmist uses the rock badger to illustrate how God provides safe refuge in rugged natural places.