Lexical Summary Shisha: Shisha Original Word: שִׁישָׁא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shisha From the same as shayish; whiteness; Shisha, an Israelite -- Shisha. see HEBREW shayish NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shayish Definition father of Solomon's scribes NASB Translation Shisha (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁישָׁא proper name, masculine Solomon's time, 1 Kings 4:3, Σαβα, Σεισα, ᵐ5L Σαφατ; compare שְׂרָיָה. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence “Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder” (1 Kings 4:3). Historical Context Shisha lived during the transition from the reign of David to the reign of Solomon, an era when Israel’s kingdom was consolidated, its borders secure, and its court bureaucracy formalized. Solomon’s administrative list in 1 Kings 4 reflects the maturing of the monarchy: specialized officials oversee taxation, provisioning, diplomacy, and record-keeping. Shisha’s family appears at the heart of this growth. Role in the Royal Administration 1 Kings 4:3 highlights the importance of the secretaries (scribes) who managed the king’s correspondence, treaties, legal records, and wisdom literature. As the father of two chief secretaries, Shisha evidently trained his sons—or provided access to training—in the complex skills of reading, writing, and legal procedure. Their placement under Solomon indicates a reputation for integrity and competence, reinforcing the proverb that “the king establishes the land by justice” (Proverbs 29:4). Family Legacy and Scribal Tradition Scripture traces the office of “scribe” through several names that appear to represent the same family line: • Seraiah in David’s early court (2 Samuel 8:17) The shifting orthography is common in Hebrew personal names transmitted through different dialects and time periods. Taken together, these references suggest at least three generations of royal scribes. Such continuity guaranteed reliable record-keeping, preserved covenantal law, and provided archives from which later biblical historians drew. Theological Significance 1. Stewardship of God’s Word. Royal scribes did more than keep civil documents; they safeguarded the Torah, ensuring the king’s obligation to “write for himself a copy of this Law” (Deuteronomy 17:18). Shisha’s household therefore assisted the covenant king in remaining under divine authority. Intertextual Considerations The Chronicler’s use of Shavsha points readers back to David, while the Kings narrative points forward to Solomon. Together they reveal a seamless administrative history, supporting the biblical claim that the Lord “established his throne securely over Israel and Judah” (1 Kings 2:46). Practical Implications for Believers • Value of Unsung Ministry. Like Shisha, many serve behind the scenes, yet their diligence undergirds the church’s teaching and witness. Summary Shisha stands as the patriarch of a distinguished scribal family whose faithful service linked the Davidic and Solomonic courts. Though mentioned only once, his impact reverberates through the reliable records, wisdom literature, and covenantal documents that shape the biblical narrative to this day. Forms and Transliterations שִׁישָׁ֖א שישא shiSha šî·šā šîšāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 4:3 HEB: וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י שִׁישָׁ֖א סֹפְרִ֑ים יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט NAS: the sons of Shisha [were] secretaries; KJV: the sons of Shisha, scribes; INT: and Ahijah the sons of Shisha scribes Jehoshaphat |
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