Lexical Summary Sheshak: Sheshak Original Word: שֵׁשַׁךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sheshach Of foreign derivation; Sheshak, a symbol. Name of Babylon -- Sheshach. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a name for Bab. NASB Translation Sheshach (1), Sheshak (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֵׁשַׁךְ proper name, of a territory = בָּבֶל (Jerome Rabb and modern; by Atbaš (׳בש׳את), i.e. disguising name by substituting last letter of alphabet for first, next last for second, etc., compare Thes); — Jeremiah 51:41 and hence (perhaps gloss) Jeremiah 25:26 (see Gie). Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Sheshak appears twice, both in the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:26; Jeremiah 51:41). Jeremiah 51:41: “How Sheshak is captured! The praise of the whole earth is seized. How Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations!” Meaning and Literary Device Sheshak is widely recognized as an Atbash cipher for “Babylon.” Jeremiah employs this cryptogram to cloak the name of the world power he is denouncing, while simultaneously underscoring Babylon’s inevitable fall. The literary choice aligns with prophetic patterns in which hidden or symbolic language heightens anticipation of divine intervention (compare Revelation 17–18). Historical Context In the late seventh and early sixth centuries B.C., Babylon rose to dominance after defeating Assyria and Egypt. Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 B.C., and countless Judeans were exiled. Jeremiah ministered through these upheavals, proclaiming both the Lord’s sovereign use of Babylon as an instrument of judgment (Jeremiah 25:9) and Babylon’s own forthcoming reckoning. By inserting “Sheshak” into oracles of judgment, Jeremiah reinforces that no earthly empire, however formidable, can escape God’s justice. Prophetic and Theological Significance 1. Divine Retribution: Jeremiah 25 portrays a cup of wrath passing to every nation; “the king of Sheshak will drink it too” (Jeremiah 25:26). The image confirms that God’s holiness requires judgment of oppressors. Ministry Implications and Personal Application • Vigilance against Worldliness: Babylon in Scripture often embodies pride, luxury, and idolatry. Believers are warned, “Come out of her, My people” (Revelation 18:4). The Sheshak motif urges separation from seductive cultural systems. Cross-References Isaiah 13:19 – Oracle against Babylon foreshadowing Jeremiah’s warnings. Daniel 5:30–31 – Historical fulfillment: Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians. Habakkuk 2:8 – Principle of retributive justice applied to Babylon. Revelation 18:21–24 – Final, eschatological collapse of “Babylon the great.” Key Insights • Sheshak illustrates the prophetic use of literary devices to convey both concealment and emphasis. Forms and Transliterations שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ שֵׁשַׁ֖ךְ ששך šê·šaḵ šêšaḵ sheShachLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 25:26 HEB: הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וּמֶ֥לֶךְ שֵׁשַׁ֖ךְ יִשְׁתֶּ֥ה אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: and the king of Sheshach shall drink KJV: and the king of Sheshach shall drink INT: of the ground and the king of Sheshach shall drink after Jeremiah 51:41 2 Occurrences |
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