Lexical Definition

‎שָׁפָט‎ Shâphâṭ (shaw-fawt') Shaphat ^N:N-M-P
from ‎שָׁפַט‎; judge

Shaphat.

• § Shaphat = "judged" or "he hath judged"
• Shaphat, the name of four Israelites

1) son of Hori and the prince of Simeon chosen to spy out the promised land
2) father of the prophet Elisha
3) a Judaite, son of Shemaiah and descendant of Zerubbabel in the royal line of Judah
4) a chief of the tribe of Gad
5) son of Adlai and chief herdsman for David over the herds in the valleys

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.19.16
• father of: Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שָׁפָט‎ proper name, masculine (he hath judged); — usually Σαφατ[θ]:

1. father of Elilsha 1Kgs 19:16; 1Kgs 19:19; 2Kgs 3:11; 2Kgs 6:31.

2. prince of Simeon Num 13:5.

3. grandson of Zerubbabel 1Chr 3:22.

4. Gaddite chief 1Chr 5:12 (Σαβατ, Σαφαμ [ν]).

5. herdsman of David 1Chr 27:29 (Σωφαν, A Σωφατ, ᵐ5^L Σαφατ).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Father of Elisha • Father of Elisha the prophet

Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Shaphat was the father of Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah and performed many miracles during the reigns of the kings of Israel.

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.19.16;
• only referred to as Shaphat שָׁפָט;
• father of Elisha אֱלִישָׁע.

Shaphat, mentioned in 1 Kings 19:16,19 and 2 Kings 3:11, 6:31, was the father of Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah. Shaphat was from Abel-meholah, a town in the Jordan Valley. When Elijah was instructed by God to anoint Elisha as his successor, he found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, indicating that Shaphat's family was wealthy and had a large agricultural operation. Elisha's response to Elijah's call, slaughtering the oxen and using the equipment to cook a meal for the people, demonstrates his willingness to leave behind his former life and fully commit to his prophetic ministry. As a prophet, Elisha performed numerous miracles and played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of Israel during the reigns of kings Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash. The mention of Shaphat as Elisha's father highlights the family background of this important prophetic figure.

All entries for Shaphat: שָׁפָט

Related Profiles:

• Elisha (child)