Lexical Definition

‎שִׁנְעָר‎ Shinʻâr (shin-awr') Shinar ^N:N--L
probably of foreign derivation

Shinar.

• § Shinar = "country of two rivers"
• Shinar, a plain in Babylonia

1) the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שִׁנְעָר‎ proper name, of a location Shinar = Babylonia (= Babylonian Šumêr according to COT^{Gen 11:1} and others, > denied by Hal^{Rev. Crit. 1883, 44} Jen^{ZK ii(1885), 419}; Egyptian Sangar (WMM^As.u.Eur.279), Tel Amarna Šan—ar (Wkl^{TelAm. 25}) identification with ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ by Mey^{Egyptiaca 63}; compare, further, Pinches^{Hast. DB SHINAR}); — ‎׳‎‎אֶרֶץ שׁ‎ Gen 10:10; Gen 11:2; Zech 5:11; Dan 1:2 ‎׳‎‎מֶלֶךְשֿׁ‎ (Amraphel) Gen 14:2; Gen 14:9 ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ alone Isa 11:11 (as place of diaspora); ‎׳‎‎אַדֶּרֶת שׁ‎ Josh 7:21 ᵐ5 usually Σεν(ν)ααρ; Zech 5:11 (ἐν γῆ) Βαβυλῶνος. ‎שְׁנָת‎ sleep, see ‎שֵׁנָה‎ below ‎יָשֵׁן‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Shinar • In Mesopotamia • Ancient region in Mesopotamia, associated with Babylon

Shinar was an ancient region in Mesopotamia, associated with the cities of Babylon and Uruk, and the site of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 10:10; 11:2; 14:1, 9; Josh. 7:21; Isa. 11:11; Dan. 1:2; Zech. 5:11).

• A location in Mesopotamia first mentioned at Gen.10.10;
• only referred to as Shinar שִׁנְעָר.
  

Shinar was an ancient territory first mentioned in Genesis as the location of several important cities including Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh (Genesis 10:10). This region became historically significant immediately after the Flood when people migrated to a plain in Shinar and built the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:2).

The area was ruled by powerful kings from an early period. Amraphel, king of Shinar, appears among the coalition of kings who fought against the cities of the plain during Abraham's time (Genesis 14:1,9). This demonstrates the region's significant political influence in the ancient Near East.

Shinar's wealth and craftsmanship were renowned. During the conquest of Canaan, Achan coveted and stole a beautiful robe from Shinar among other valuable items (Joshua 7:21). The quality of its goods made them highly desirable as plunder.

The region maintained its importance throughout biblical history. Isaiah mentioned Shinar among the places from which God would recover the remnant of His people (Isaiah 11:11). During the Babylonian exile, King Nebuchadnezzar took vessels from Jerusalem's temple to "the land of Shinar," to the house of his god (Daniel 1:2).

In a prophetic vision, Zechariah saw wickedness being transported to Shinar, where a house would be built for it (Zechariah 5:11), suggesting the region's enduring association with rebellion against God.

Probably corresponds to ancient Sumer and Babylonia, encompassing the southern portion of modern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

All entries for Shinar: שִׁנְעָר