Lexical Summary Sheshbatstsar: Sheshbazzar Original Word: שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sheshbazzar Of foreign derivation; Sheshbatstsar, Zerubbabel's Persian name -- Sheshbazzar. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign or Definition a prince of Judah NASB Translation Sheshbazzar (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שִׁשֵּׁא] verb intensive apparently lead on; so Vrss and context; Perfect1singular suffix וְשִׁשֵּׁאתִיךָ Ezekiel 39:2 consecutive, I (׳י) will lead thee on (accusativeof Gog) (form Pilpel from assumed √ שׁאא Ol§ 253 Sta§§ 112 a Anm. 2; 464 Hi-Sm Krae Berthol). Topical Lexicon Name and Identity Sheshbazzar is introduced as “the prince of Judah” (Ezra 1:8). Appointed by King Cyrus of Persia, he serves as the officially recognized leader of the first returnees from Babylon. The text neither states his genealogy nor his exact tribal lineage, yet the Persian court clearly regards him as a legitimate Jewish prince. Conservative scholarship often views Sheshbazzar as either (1) the same individual later called Zerubbabel, with one being a Babylonian or Persian court name and the other a Hebrew name, or (2) an elder leader distinct from Zerubbabel who inaugurated the return and then ceded active governance. Both views acknowledge an orderly divine provision of leadership for the nascent remnant. Historical Setting: The First Return from Exile (538 B.C.) Sheshbazzar steps onto the biblical stage immediately after the decree of Cyrus that ended Judah’s seventy-year captivity (Ezra 1:1–4; compare Jeremiah 29:10). The prophetical promises concerning restoration and temple rebuilding (Isaiah 44:28; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23) find their initial fulfillment under his oversight. His brief appearance represents the critical hinge between exile and restoration. Custodian of the Sacred Vessels Ezra 1:8 records: “King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the direction of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.” The objects listed in Ezra 1:9–11 (5,400 gold and silver articles) had been plundered by Nebuchadnezzar and desecrated in Belshazzar’s feast (Daniel 5:2–4). Cyrus’ act of restitution, administered through Sheshbazzar, publicly vindicates the holiness of the temple articles and signals Yahweh’s continued covenant faithfulness. Sheshbazzar’s integrity as treasurer-prince assures that every vessel is returned “when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:11). Foundations of the Second Temple The Aramaic correspondence preserved in Ezra 5:16 records: “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem.” Although later rebuilding efforts are linked to Zerubbabel, Scripture credits Sheshbazzar with the symbolic and physical act of foundation-laying. In prophetic perspective (Haggai 2:18–19; Zechariah 4:9), the laying of the foundation is both a tangible commencement of worship renewal and a pledge of future completion. Relationship to Zerubbabel 1. Same Person View – Sheshbazzar could be Zerubbabel’s Babylonian court name, reflecting a common practice of dual naming (compare Daniel/Belteshazzar). Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty in World Affairs – Cyrus’ decree and Sheshbazzar’s commission show God directing pagan monarchs for covenant purposes (Proverbs 21:1). Ministry Lessons for the Church • Transitional Leadership – Like Sheshbazzar, leaders today may lay foundations others will build upon (1 Corinthians 3:6–11). Typological and Prophetic Echoes The return led by Sheshbazzar anticipates a greater exodus yet to come (Isaiah 11:11–12), when scattered Israel will again be gathered to worship in a perfected temple (Ezekiel 40–48; Revelation 21:22). His role, though briefly noted, foreshadows the ultimate Prince who will purify the sanctuary and lead His people home (Hebrews 2:10). Forms and Transliterations לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר לששבצר שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֗ר ששבצר lə·šê·šə·baṣ·ṣar ləšêšəbaṣṣar lesheshebatzTzar šê·šə·baṣ·ṣar šêšəbaṣṣar sheshebatzTzarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 1:8 HEB: הַגִּזְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּסְפְּרֵם֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר הַנָּשִׂ֖יא לִיהוּדָֽה׃ NAS: and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince KJV: and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince INT: the treasurer counted to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah Ezra 1:11 2 Occurrences |
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