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שְׁיָא

𐤔𐤉𐤀

Sheya

H7864 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שוה (or uncertain) to level, be like, consider (if derived from שוה); uncertain for this name form

Definition

Shᵉyâʼ is a proper name borne by an individual in post-exilic Israelite genealogies, occurring among lists of returnees. The form functions exclusively as a personal name and does not carry a common (non-proper) lexical meaning.

Semantic Range

proper name of an individual, no common noun use, variant of Shevaʼ (שְׁוָא)

Root / Etymology

The form שְׁיָא (Shᵉyâʼ) is likely a variant or textual development from שְׁוָא (Shevaʼ; see 1 Chronicles 2:49), possibly due to scribal transmission or dialectal variation. Ultimate etymology is uncertain but may be related to the root שוה (to level, be like, consider), or may be a theophoric element or name short form, though this is not certain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Shᵉyâʼ appears in Nehemiah 8:4 among the names of Levites or assistants involved in the public reading of Torah during the restoration period. It is listed alongside other returning Israelite figures, reflecting the social reality of restored communities in the Persian period. The Masoretic text reads שְׁיָא (Shᵉyâʼ), while some manuscript traditions, such as marginal readings and the parallel in 1 Chronicles 2:49, offer the variant שְׁוָא (Shevaʼ). The name has no discernible meaning as a common noun in biblical Hebrew, functioning solely as a personal name. English translations may substitute or conflate the forms as 'Sheva' or 'Sheja' but the difference is textual rather than semantic. There is no evidence for applied ethnic, religious, or geographic connotation beyond its genealogical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

for שְׁוָא; Sheja, an Israelite; Sheva (from the margin).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שוה (š-w-h) — to level, be like, consider (uncertain for this name form)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3145 יוֹשַׁוְיָה And Yahweh-has-established
H3438 יִשְׁוָה and Yishvah
H3440 יִשְׁוִי to Yishvi
H3441 יִשְׁוִי the Yishvite
H7737 שָׁוָה I will make equal

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7864-01 ו/שיא vshy HC/Np and Sheva Sheya 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7864-01 2 Samuel 20:25 ו/שיא vshy HC/Np and Sheva Sheya
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