The Hebrew word Shâshay, represented by H8343, is a proper name. The base definition is perhaps from שֵׁשׁ; whitish; Shashai, an Israelite; Shashai. It appears 1 times across 1 unique verses in the Bible. Its use is highly specific, identifying a single individual in the biblical record.
In the biblical narrative, H8343 appears exclusively in a list of names. Its single occurrence is in Ezra 10:40, where Shashai is named as an Israelite. The verse places him alongside other individuals, but the text provides no further details about his life, role, or actions.
Two other names are listed directly with Shashai in its only scriptural appearance:
- H4367 Maknadbay (Machnadebai): Defined as "from מָה and נָדַב with a particle interposed; what (is) like (a) liberal (man) ?; Maknadbai, an Israelite; Machnadebai." This name appears alongside Shashai in the list found in Ezra 10:40.
- H8298 Shâray (Sharai): Defined as "probably from שָׁרַר; hostile; Sharay, an Israelite; Sharai." This individual is also named in the same list in Ezra 10:40.
Unlike words with broad theological implications, the significance of H8343 is primarily historical and etymological.
- Specific Identification: The name's sole purpose is to identify Shashai, an Israelite mentioned in a specific list. It does not carry any abstract theological weight.
- Potential Meaning: The name's derivation suggests a possible meaning of whitish, though the text offers no commentary on this attribute.
- Historical Record: Its inclusion in Ezra 10:40 serves to document one of the individuals present in the post-exilic community, functioning as part of a genealogical or census-style record.
In summary, H8343 is a proper noun for the Israelite named Shashai. Its biblical presence is confined to a single mention in Ezra 10:40. While its potential etymology points to the meaning whitish, its scriptural role is purely as an identifier within a list, lacking the broader conceptual or theological development seen in other Hebrew words. It stands as an example of a word with a singular, specific function in the biblical text.
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