שׁוֹבָל
sho.val
Shobal
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the lexicon data provided, "Shobal" (שׁוֹבָל) is a Hebrew personal name. As a proper noun, its meaning is specific to a particular individual or group within a given context. The four occurrences in the Bible suggest that it holds a significant but limited role within the narrative. From the given information, we can infer that Shobal has a specific identity, likely a person, a family, or a lineage. The fact that it is categorized as a proper name implies a unique relationship to its environment, possibly signifying importance or prominence among its community. The rarity and specificity of a name can often indicate a sense of distinctiveness or a notable position held by its bearer. However, without further context, the exact nature of Shobal's significance and the range of its usage in the biblical narrative remain unclear. As a proper name, its meaning is tied to the individual or group it represents rather than conveying a universal idea or concept. Therefore, to understand the full significance of "Shobal" in the biblical context, it is essential to examine the four instances where it appears, analyzing its connections to the surrounding narrative and its relationship with other characters and themes.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
1 Chronicles 2:52Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
1 Chronicles 4:1The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
1 Chronicles 4:2Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.