Sheshbazzar
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Sheshbazzar in the Bible?
Sheshbazzar, a Babylonian name potentially meaning 'Shamash, protect the father,' served as the governor of Judah under Persian rule following the decree of Cyrus the Great. He is identified in biblical texts as the leader who brought the temple vessels back from Babylon and laid the foundations of the Second Temple, with many scholars equating him with Zerubbabel.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Sheshbazzar clarifies the administrative structure of the early Persian period in Judah, highlighting the political legitimacy granted to Jewish leadership by the Persian Empire and providing context for the initial phase of the Second Temple's construction as recorded in Ezra.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.