שִׁנְאָב
𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤁
Shinʼâb
H8134 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Shinab, a historical figure mentioned as the king of Admah, a Canaanite city, in the patriarchal period narrative. The name is a personal name of non-Israelite (Canaanite) usage, likely derived from verbal roots meaning 'to change' or 'to hate' alongside the noun 'father'; actual lexical meaning is uncertain due to sparse attestation and ambiguity in root combination.
Semantic Range
proper name, king of Admah, possible etymological meanings (the father has changed, the father is hateful), personal name of Canaanite origin
Root / Etymology
The name appears to be a compound of two Hebrew roots: שָׁנָא (sh-n-ʾ: 'to change', although some lexicons suggest 'to hate') and אָב (ʾ-b: 'father'). The precise etymology is uncertain, and the meaning of the combination in this personal name context is not securely established; possible interpretations include 'the father has changed' or 'the father is hateful', but such meanings remain speculative in the absence of clear parallel names or usages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Shinab is attested only as a proper name in Genesis 14:2, identifying the king of Admah, a Canaanite city, during the patriarchal era. As a non-Israelite name, its form and structure are consistent with other names from the region but do not follow typical Israelite naming conventions. The association with the roots שָׁנָא ('to change' or 'to hate') and אָב ('father') reflects standard lexicographic practice, yet the combination is highly uncommon and does not yield a transparent meaning in ancient Hebrew. Standard English translations render the name as 'Shinab' without attempting translation, which reflects the prevailing academic practice due to lexical uncertainty. No theological or later religious meanings are associated with this name, and its relevance is limited to the contextual narrative of Genesis 14.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from שָׁנָא and אָב; a father has turned; Shinab, a Canaanite; Shinab.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שנא, אב (sh-n-ʾ; ʾ-b) — to change, to hate, father
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8134-01 |
שִׁנְאָ֣ב | shineav | HNp |
Shinab | Change-Father | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8134-01 |
Genesis 14:2 | שִׁנְאָ֣ב | shineav | HNp |
Shinab | Change-Father |