שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר (she.she.bats.tsar)
she.she.bats.tsar
Sheshbazzar
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Sheshbazzar is a proper noun appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, within the book of Ezra. He is identified as the prince of Judah who led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian decree allowed their return. The sources note that he is likely the same person known by another name, Zerubbabel, who appears more frequently in biblical genealogies and historical narratives.
The meaning of the name connects to ancient religious practices, translating roughly to "worshipper of fire." This etymology reflects the cultural context of the Babylonian exile, where names often incorporated local deities or elements. Despite this foreign-sounding title, he is consistently described as a leader from the tribe of Judah, bridging the gap between his captors' culture and his people's heritage.
His role in the narrative is foundational yet brief. He is credited with laying the foundation of the temple and recovering the sacred vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar. The text highlights his administrative responsibility in returning these items to the restored community, marking the beginning of the rebuilding effort that would continue under later leaders.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Sheshbazzar appears only twice in Scripture, yet his story offers a quiet lesson in stewardship and new beginnings. As governor appointed by Cyrus, he was entrusted with the sacred vessels Nebuchadnezzar had stolen decades earlier. Rather than keeping them for himself or letting them fade into history, Sheshbazzar returned them to Jerusalem. This act of faithful custody reminds us that God often entrusts us with resources—time, gifts, or opportunities—to restore what was lost.
He also laid the foundation for the temple. The work he started took years to complete, and the structure remained unfinished for a long time. Still, his initial obedience mattered. It set the stage for everything that followed. In our own lives, we may not see immediate results when we begin serving God or rebuilding broken areas of our world. But like Sheshbazzar, our faithful steps in the early days are never wasted.
His name may reflect Babylonian culture, yet his actions honored Yahweh. This shows that God can use people from any background to carry out His purposes. We do not need perfect origins or immediate success to be part of God’s plan. Simple obedience in laying a foundation is enough to start something lasting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ Sheshbazzar1×
- Sheshbazzar1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר1×
- לְ/שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:14
The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
This verse highlights Sheshbazzar’s role as a faithful steward, entrusted by Cyrus to return the sacred vessels stolen from Jerusalem, showing how God preserves His holiness through human agents.
-
Ezra 5:16
Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
Here Sheshbazzar lays the temple’s foundation, marking the physical start of restoration even though the work would remain incomplete for years, emphasizing the value of beginning faithful work.