שֵׁשַׁי (she.shay)
she.shay
Sheshai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Sheshai is a proper name appearing only three times in the Hebrew Bible, identifying him as a son of Anak and brother to Ahiman and Talmai. The sources note that his name means "noble," a title fitting for a descendant of the Anakim, a group described as giants in the land of Canaan. His first mention occurs in Numbers 13:22, where he is located in Hebron, the city founded seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
These brief references place Sheshai within the narrative of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the Promised Land. The spies report that the land produces abundant fruit but is inhabited by powerful people, specifically noting the presence of the descendants of Anak (Numbers 13:28-29). Later, in Joshua 15:14 and Judges 1:10, Sheshai appears as one of the three leaders whom Caleb drives out of Hebron. The text highlights this victory to show that the promised land was indeed conquered, fulfilling God’s word despite the initial fear of the Israelites.
Though Sheshai himself is not a central character, his name serves as a concrete marker of the formidable opposition the Israelites faced. By naming him alongside his brothers, the biblical text emphasizes the specific lineage and strength of the Canaanite inhabitants. His defeat by Caleb stands as a testament to the fulfillment of divine promise, shifting the narrative from fear to conquest.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Sheshai is a proper name found only three times in Scripture, identifying him as one of the sons of Anak and a brother to Ahiman and Talmai. In Numbers 13:22, he is mentioned among the formidable inhabitants of Hebron whom the twelve spies encountered. These brief references place Sheshai within the narrative of the scouts sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land, where the people reported that the land produced abundant fruit but was also home to powerful descendants of Anak.
Later accounts in Joshua 15:14 and Judges 1:10 record Caleb driving out these three leaders from Hebron. Though Sheshai himself is not a central character, his name serves as a concrete marker of the opposition the Israelites faced. His defeat by Caleb highlights that the promised land was indeed conquered, fulfilling God’s word despite the initial fear of the people.
For your faith, this story reminds us that no obstacle is too great for God’s purposes. Even when challenges seem as large as the Anakim, God’s promises remain sure. We can trust that He brings victory in His time, turning what looks impossible into a testimony of His faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sheshai3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵׁשַׁ֥י1×
- שֵׁשַׁ֤י1×
- שֵׁשַׁ֣י1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 13:22
They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
This verse introduces Sheshai as one of the Anakim encountered by the spies, establishing the strength of the opposition in Hebron.
-
Joshua 15:14
Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Here Caleb drives out Sheshai, showing that the promise to dispossess the Anakim was fulfilled through specific military action.
-
Judges 1:10
Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
This passage confirms Judah’s success against Sheshai and his brothers, reinforcing the narrative of conquest in Hebron.