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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Sheshach</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/sheshach.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/jeremiah/25-26.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/sheshach.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Sheshach</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/she's.htm" title="She's">◄</a> Sheshach <a href="/topical/naves/s/sheshach--a_symbolical_name,_apparently_applied_to_the_city_of_babylon.htm" title="Sheshach: A Symbolical Name, Apparently Applied to the City of Babylon">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#hit" title="Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary">Hitchcock's</a> • <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Sheshach is a cryptic name found in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the prophetic writings of Jeremiah. It appears in two passages: <a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">Jeremiah 51:41</a>. The term is often understood to be a code or cipher for Babylon, using a method known as Atbash, where the Hebrew alphabet is reversed. In this cipher, the letters of the word "Sheshach" correspond to those of "Babel" (Babylon).<br><br><b>Biblical References:</b><br><br>1. <b><a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a> :</b> "And all the kings of the north, near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too."<br><br>2. <b><a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">Jeremiah 51:41</a> :</b> "How Sheshach will be captured, the boast of the whole earth seized! What a horror Babylon will become among the nations!"<br><br>In these passages, Sheshach is depicted as a significant power that will face divine judgment. The context of <a href="/bsb/jeremiah/25.htm">Jeremiah 25</a> is a prophecy concerning the nations that will drink from the cup of God's wrath, indicating that Sheshach, or Babylon, will not escape this judgment. Similarly, <a href="/bsb/jeremiah/51.htm">Jeremiah 51</a> speaks of the fall of Babylon, emphasizing its impending doom and the horror it will become among the nations.<br><br><b>Historical and Theological Context:</b><br><br>The use of Sheshach as a cryptic reference to Babylon is significant in the context of Jeremiah's prophecies. Babylon was a dominant empire during the time of Jeremiah, and it played a crucial role in the history of Israel and Judah, particularly in the events leading to the Babylonian exile. The use of a cipher may have served as a literary device to convey a message of hope and assurance to the Jewish people that their oppressor would eventually be judged by God.<br><br>From a theological perspective, the mention of Sheshach underscores the theme of divine justice and sovereignty. It reflects the biblical narrative that no nation, regardless of its power and influence, is beyond the reach of God's judgment. The fall of Babylon, as prophesied by Jeremiah, serves as a testament to God's control over the affairs of nations and His commitment to righteousness.<br><br><b>Interpretation and Significance:</b><br><br>The identification of Sheshach with Babylon through the Atbash cipher is widely accepted among biblical scholars. This interpretation aligns with the broader message of the Book of Jeremiah, which addresses the rise and fall of nations according to God's purposes. The prophetic use of Sheshach highlights the certainty of Babylon's downfall, reinforcing the hope for the restoration of God's people.<br><br>In the broader biblical narrative, the fall of Babylon is symbolic of the ultimate defeat of evil and the establishment of God's kingdom. The imagery of Babylon's judgment is echoed in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Revelation, where Babylon represents the forces opposed to God and His people.<br><br>Overall, Sheshach serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly powers and the enduring sovereignty of God.<a name="hit" id="hit"></a><div class="vheading2">Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Sheshach</span><p>bag of flax or linen<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Sheshach</span><p>(from the goddess <i>Shach</i> , reduplicated) is a term which occurs only in (<a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">51:41</a>) where it is evidently used as a synonym for either Babylon or Babylonia.<a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Sheshach</span><p>A poetical name for Babylon, signifying, as some judge, house or court of the prince, <a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a>; 51:41. </p><a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>(<a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a>), supposed to be equivalent to Babel (Babylon), according to a secret (cabalistic) mode of writing among the Jews of unknown antiquity, which consisted in substituting the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet for the first, the last but one for the second, and so on. Thus the letters sh, sh, ch become b, b, l, i.e., Babel. This is supposed to be confirmed by a reference to <a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">Jeremiah 51:41</a>, where Sheshach and Babylon are in parallel clauses. There seems to be no reason to doubt that Babylon is here intended by this name. (see <a href="../s/jeremiah.htm">Streane's Jeremiah</a>, l.c.) <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">SHESHACH</span><p>she'-shak (sheshakh, as if "humiliation"; compare shakhakh, "to crouch"): The general explanation is that this is "a cypherform of `Babel' (Babylon)" which is the word given as equivalent to "Sheshach" by the Targum (<a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">Jeremiah 51:41</a>; the Septuagint omits in both passages). By the device known as Atbas 'atbas, i.e. disguising a name by substituting the last letter of the alphabet for the first, the letter next to the last for the second, etc., sh-sh-k is substituted for babhel. This theory has not failed of opposition. Delitzsch holds that "Sheshach" represents Sis-ku-KI of an old Babylonian regal register, which may have stood for a part of the city of Babylon. (For a refutation of this interpretation see Schrader, KAT2, 415; COT, II, 108 f.) Lauth, too, takes "Sheshach" to be a Hebraization of Siska, a Babylonian district. Winckler and Sayce read Uru-azagga. Finally, Cheyne and a number of critics hold that the word has crept into the text, being "a conceit of later editors."<br><br>See further JEREMIAH, 6.<br><br>Horace J. Wolf<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/8347.htm"><span class="l">8347. Sheshak -- a name for Bab.</span></a><br><b>...</b> a name for Bab. Transliteration: Sheshak Phonetic Spelling: (shay-shak') Short<br> Definition: <b>Sheshach</b>. <b>...</b> NASB Word Usage <b>Sheshach</b> (1), Sheshak (1). <b>Sheshach</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/8347.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 5k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/lightfoot/from_the_talmud_and_hebraica/chapter_72_tiberias.htm"><span class="l">Tiberias.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> when any dies here (in Babylon), they lament him there (at Tiberias) after this<br> manner, The hearse of a famous man deceased in <b>Sheshach</b> (Babylon): whose name <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 72 tiberias.htm</font><p><a href="/library/white/the_story_of_prophets_and_kings/chapter_43_the_unseen_watcher.htm"><span class="l">The Unseen Watcher</span></a> <br><b>...</b> As in vision God had revealed to them the events of the future, they had exclaimed:<br> "How is <b>Sheshach</b> taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 43 the unseen watcher.htm</font><p><a href="/library/bunyan/the_works_of_john_bunyan_volumes_1-3/of_antichrist_and_his_ruin_.htm"><span class="l">Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> To wit, All the kingdoms of the world which are upon the face of the earth. 'And<br> <b>Sheshach</b> shall drink after them' (verse 26). But what was <b>Sheshach</b>? <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/s/sheshach.htm"><span class="l"><b>Sheshach</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> This is supposed to be confirmed by a reference to Jeremiah 51:41, where <b>Sheshach</b><br> and Babylon are in parallel clauses. <b>...</b> Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>SHESHACH</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sheshach.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sheshai.htm"><span class="l">Sheshai (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sheshai.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sheshak.htm"><span class="l">Sheshak (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Jeremiah 51:41 How hath <b>Sheshach</b> been captured, Yea, caught is the praise of the<br> whole earth, How hath Babylon been for an astonishment among nations. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sheshak.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/she's.htm"><span class="l">She's (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/she's.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/d/drinketh.htm"><span class="l">Drinketh (33 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> north, The near and the far off, one unto another, And all the kingdoms of the earth,<br> That 'are' on the face of the ground, And king <b>Sheshach</b> drinketh after <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/d/drinketh.htm - 16k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/surprised.htm"><span class="l">Surprised (46 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (KJV WBS). Jeremiah 51:41 How is <b>Sheshach</b> taken! and how is the praise of the whole<br> earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/surprised.htm - 19k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm"><span class="l">Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> In 25:26 the words, "and the king of <b>Sheshach</b> shall drink after them," are<br> likewise considered spurious. <b>Sheshach</b> is rightly regarded <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/jeremiah.htm - 75k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/astonishment.htm"><span class="l">Astonishment (51 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> inhabitant. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). Jeremiah 51:41 How is <b>Sheshach</b><br> taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/astonishment.htm - 24k</font><p><a href="/topical/k/kingdoms.htm"><span class="l">Kingdoms (65 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world,<br> which are on the surface of the earth: and the king of <b>Sheshach</b> shall drink <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/kingdoms.htm - 29k</font><p><a href="/topical/h/horror.htm"><span class="l">Horror (51 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (See NAS RSV NIV). Jeremiah 51:41 How is <b>Sheshach</b> taken! and the praise of the whole<br> earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/h/horror.htm - 23k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Sheshach (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/jeremiah/25-26.htm">Jeremiah 25:26</a></span><br />and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are on the surface of the earth: and the king of <span class="boldtext">Sheshach</span> shall drink after them.<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/jeremiah/51-41.htm">Jeremiah 51:41</a></span><br />How is <span class="boldtext">Sheshach</span> taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! <br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/sheshach.htm">Sheshach</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/s/sheshach--a_symbolical_name,_apparently_applied_to_the_city_of_babylon.htm">Sheshach: A Symbolical Name, Apparently Applied to the City of Babylon</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sheshai.htm">Sheshai (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sheshak.htm">Sheshak (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/she's.htm">She's (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/drinketh.htm">Drinketh (33 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/surprised.htm">Surprised (46 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/astonishment.htm">Astonishment (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kingdoms.htm">Kingdoms (65 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/horror.htm">Horror (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/surface.htm">Surface (71 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/object.htm">Object (76 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/boast.htm">Boast (86 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/desolation.htm">Desolation (131 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/north.htm">North (164 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/text.htm">Text (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/monthly.htm">Monthly (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon (270 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sodomite.htm">Sodomite (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/s/she's.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="She's"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="She's" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/naves/s/sheshach--a_symbolical_name,_apparently_applied_to_the_city_of_babylon.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Sheshach: A Symbolical Name, Apparently Applied to the City of Babylon"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Sheshach: A Symbolical Name, Apparently Applied to the City of Babylon" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>