שֹׁבַי
𐤔𐤁𐤉
Shovay
H7630 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name, Shobai, referring specifically to an Israelite individual mentioned among those returning from exile. There is no attested common noun or verb usage; the word functions exclusively as a proper name in the biblical text. The semantic range is thus limited to its use as a personal name.
Semantic Range
proper name; personal name of an Israelite gatekeeper; designation of a family head among returnees from exile
Root / Etymology
The root is likely שׁבה (š-b-h), meaning 'to take captive, carry away,' but the precise vocalization and parsing of the name are uncertain. It may be a contracted or variant form, possibly linked to the participial or nominal form of the root, but etymology is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shobai (שֹׁבַי) appears in post-exilic genealogies (notably Nehemiah 11:19 and Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45), designating a family head or ancestor among the Israelite returnees from Babylonian exile, specifically among the listed gatekeepers. The name is not used prior to the post-exilic period and does not occur as a common noun or verb. In English translation tradition, this name is rendered phonetically or as 'Shobai'; it is not associated with any later ethnic or religious identity such as 'Jew' in the biblical context. Its mention is restricted to the context of lists identifying returnees under the Persian administration, reflecting the restoration of Israelite communal life in Jerusalem.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for שֹׁבִי; Shobai, an Israelite; Shobai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שבה (š-b-h) — to take captive, carry away, deport
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7617 | שָׁבָה | like captured women |
| H7618 | שְׁבוּ | sparkling gemstone |
| H7622 | שְׁבוּת | captivity of |
| H7628 | שְׁבִי | in the captivity |
| H7633 | שִׁבְיָה | in the captivity |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7630-01 |
שֹׁבָ֑י | shovay | HNp |
Shobai | Captive-One | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7630-01 |
Ezra 2:42 | שֹׁבָ֑י | shovay | HNp |
Shobai | Captive-One |
H7630-01 |
Nehemiah 7:45 | שֹׁבָ֑י | shovay | HNp |
Shobai | Captive-One |