Lexical Summary Shearyah: Shearyah Original Word: שְׁעַרְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sheariah From sha'ar and Yahh; Jah has stormed; Shearjah, an Israelite -- Sheariah. see HEBREW sha'ar see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shaar and Yah Definition perhaps "gate of Yah," a Benjamite NASB Translation Sheariah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שְׁעַרְיָה proper name, masculine in Benjamin, 1 Chronicles 8:38 = 1 Chronicles 9:44, Σαρ(α)ια, Σααρια. Topical Lexicon Name and Symbolic Meaning The Hebrew name Sheʽaryah carries the idea of “Yahweh is the gate” or “gate of Yahweh.” In the culture of Scripture a gate was more than a point of entry; it was the place where justice was administered, covenants were witnessed, and community identity was guarded. By bearing a name that joins “gate” with the covenant name of God, Sheʽaryah silently testifies that access to safety, judgment, and fellowship ultimately lies in the LORD Himself (compare John 10:9). Genealogical Setting in Chronicles Sheʽaryah appears twice, both times within the Benjamite genealogies preserved by the Chronicler: • 1 Chronicles 8:38 – “Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.” The duplication of the list—first in the tribal roster (chapter 8) and then in the post-exilic enrollment (chapter 9)—shows that Sheʽaryah’s line survived the Babylonian captivity and was counted among the restored community at Jerusalem. Thus his name becomes part of the Chronicler’s larger purpose: to demonstrate the continuity of God’s covenant people from pre-exilic days into the restored nation. Tribal and Historical Context 1 Chronicles 8 traces the lineage of Benjamin, the tribe of Israel’s first king, Saul. By the time of the Chronicler (late fifth or early fourth century B.C.), Judah had returned from exile, yet Benjamin’s place in the nation still mattered. The record of Azel’s six sons, including Sheʽaryah, preserves the memory of Benjaminite families who remained faithful and whose descendants likely settled near Jerusalem (cf. Nehemiah 11:31-36). Their presence bolstered the strategic defense of the city’s northern approaches and contributed to the repopulation essential for temple and civic life. Theology of the Gate A name such as “Yahweh is the gate” invites reflection on biblical theology: • Protection – In ancient towns the gate was the most vulnerable spot; to acknowledge Yahweh as gate is to confess that ultimate security comes from Him (Psalm 127:1). Continuity of the Remnant The Chronicler’s inclusion of otherwise unknown individuals like Sheʽaryah underscores the value God places on every family within His covenant. Even when exile scattered the nation, the LORD preserved a remnant. Genealogies function as proof that promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David were not forgotten. Each unbroken line, including that of Azel’s son Sheʽaryah, is a testimony that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Lessons for Contemporary Believers 1. God knows and records names that history might overlook; obscurity in human eyes does not diminish worth in His plan. Forms and Transliterations וּשְׁעַרְיָ֔ה ושעריה ū·šə·‘ar·yāh ūšə‘aryāh ushearYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:38 HEB: בֹּ֙כְרוּ֙ וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל וּשְׁעַרְיָ֔ה וְעֹבַדְיָ֖ה וְחָנָ֑ן NAS: Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah KJV: and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, INT: Bocheru Ishmael Sheariah Obadiah and Hanan 1 Chronicles 9:44 2 Occurrences |
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