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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Shaphat

Shaphat meaning

Shaphat in Biblical Hebrew
שפט
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Shaphat.html

🔼The name Shaphat: Summary

Meaning
Governor, He Has Judged
Etymology
From the verb שפט (shapat), to judge or govern.
Related names
• Via שפט (shapat): Elishaphat, En-mishpat, Jehoshaphat, Joshaphat, Shephatiah, Shiphtan

🔼The name Shaphat in the Bible

There are five different men named Shaphat in the Bible:

  • A son of Hori, who represented the tribe of Simeon in the contingent that Moses deployed to scout out Canaan (Numbers 13:5). This Shaphat dies as a result of his bad report, as only Joshua and Caleb survive.
  • The father of the prophet Elisha of Abel-meholah, who famously succeeded Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 19:16).
  • A son of Shemaiah who is mentioned in a genealogy of Solomon (1 Chronicles 3:22).
  • A renowned Gadite who lived in Bashan (1 Chronicles 5:12).
  • A son of Adlai who had charge of the valley-dwelling cattle of king David.(1 Chronicles 27:29).

🔼Etymology of the name Shaphat

The name Shaphat obviously comes from the similar verb שפט (shapat) meaning to judge or govern:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
שפט

The verb שפט (shapat) means to judge or govern. Nouns שפט (shepet) and שפוט (shepot) mean judgment in the penal sense. Noun משפט (mishpat) denotes a ruling in a general sense; an ordinance or even custom or manner.

— See the full Dictionary article —

🔼Shaphat meaning

For a meaning of the name Shaphat, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads He Has Judged, and BDB Theological Dictionary has the similar He Hath Judged. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Judge or Judges.