Boy Old Testament Known
Shaphan
שָׁפָן
Shaphan (Hebrew: שָׁפָן) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. Three men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a king. In 2007 it was given to 8 children in the United States. Appears with Achbor in 2 Kings 22.
Which Shaphan?
Three men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Shaphan
son of Azaliah
-
Shaphan
-
Shaphan
father of Jaazaniah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 24 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 3 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2007 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2007 | 8 | Steady |
| All-time total | 53 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 8 in 1991 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Kings 22:3 |
| Last appears | Ezekiel 8:11 |
| Cross-references | 395 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Ahikam co-occurrence Appears with Ahikam in Jeremiah 40.
- Achbor co-occurrence Appears with Achbor in 2 Kings 22.
- Asaiah co-occurrence Appears with Asaiah in 2 Kings 22.
- Gemariah co-occurrence Appears with Gemariah in Jeremiah 36.
- Hilkiah co-occurrence Appears with Hilkiah in 2 Kings 22.
- Micaiah co-occurrence Appears with Micaiah in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Azaliah co-occurrence Appears with Azaliah in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Gedaliah co-occurrence Appears with Gedaliah in Jeremiah 40.
Origin & meaning
Shaphan, the scribe, played a significant role in the religious reforms of King Josiah and the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.
The biblical story
Shaphan, mentioned in 2 Kings 22, 25.22, 2 Chronicles 34, and several passages in Jeremiah, was a scribe who served during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He was the son of Azaliah and the father of Ahikam, Elasah, and Gemariah. Shaphan played a key role in the religious reforms initiated by Josiah. When the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law in the temple, he gave it to Shaphan, who then read it to the king. This event led to a nationwide renewal of the covenant and the implementation of reforms to purge idolatry from Judah. Shaphan's sons, particularly Ahikam, continued to serve in important positions during the reigns of subsequent kings. During the Babylonian invasion and the fall of Jerusalem, Shaphan's family members were involved in various events, such as the release of Jeremiah from prison and the appointment of Gedaliah as governor over the remnant of Judah. The multiple references to Shaphan and his descendants highlight their significance in the religious and political affairs of Judah during this tumultuous period.
Key verses
Shaphan appears in 23 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord, saying,
2 Kings 22:3 -
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22:8 -
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord.
2 Kings 22:9 -
And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
2 Kings 22:10 -
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
2 Kings 22:12
Show all 23 references
2 Kings (7)
- 2 Kings 22:3
- 2 Kings 22:8
- 2 Kings 22:9
- 2 Kings 22:10
- 2 Kings 22:12
- 2 Kings 22:14
- 2 Kings 25:22
2 Chronicles (5)
- 2 Chronicles 34:8
- 2 Chronicles 34:15
- 2 Chronicles 34:16
- 2 Chronicles 34:18
- 2 Chronicles 34:20
Jeremiah (11)
- Jeremiah 26:24
- Jeremiah 29:3
- Jeremiah 36:10
- Jeremiah 36:11
- Jeremiah 36:12
- Jeremiah 39:14
- Jeremiah 40:5
- Jeremiah 40:9
- Jeremiah 40:11
- Jeremiah 41:2
- Jeremiah 43:6