Original Word: שִׁמְשַׁי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shimshay
Pronunciation: shim-shah'-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (shim-shah'-ee)
KJV: Shimshai
NASB: Shimshai
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H812 (אֶשׁכּוֹל - Eshcol)2]

1. sunny
2. Shimshai, a Samaritan

Shimshai

(Aramaic) from shemesh; sunny; Shimshai, a Samaritan -- Shimshai.

see HEBREW shemesh

Word Origin
(Aramaic) from shemash
Definition
a scribe who opposed Isr.
NASB Translation
Shimshai (4).

שִׁמְשַׁי proper name, masculine; — always סָֽפְרָא ׳שׁ: Ezra 4:8,9,17,23 (Andr^{M 86 *} conjectures Old Iranian caritative ששמי, conformed to שׁמשׁ, compare Scheft⁹², who, however, prefers Old Baktrian sim¢zhi = sima¢zhi, proper name).

שֵׁן see שׁנן. below

Historical Setting

Shimshai appears in the post-exilic records of Ezra, when Judean exiles had returned under the edicts of Cyrus and Darius to rebuild the house of the Lord and the walls of Jerusalem. Persia controlled a vast empire through satrapies and provincial governors. Samaria, to the north of Judah, had become the administrative hub of the Trans-Euphrates (Hebrew: Beyond-the-River), and local officials used imperial channels to hinder the restoration underway in Jerusalem.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Ezra 4:8
2. Ezra 4:9
3. Ezra 4:17
4. Ezra 4:23

In every instance Shimshai is linked with Rehum, the provincial “commanding officer” (peḥâ), while Shimshai himself is called the “scribe” (sōp̱ēr). Together they draft, present, and later proclaim a royal decree intended to stop Jewish reconstruction efforts.

Role in the Ezra Narrative

Ezra 4 narrates a series of oppositions spanning several Persian reigns. Shimshai’s actions occur during the reign of King Artaxerxes (likely Artaxerxes I, 465-424 B.C.). The adversaries allege that Jerusalem’s rebuilding would foster rebellion, diminish tribute, and destabilize imperial control. Their letter presents historical “evidence” from prior Judean revolts to reinforce their claims.

After receiving the accusation, Artaxerxes orders an inquiry: “Therefore issue an order to stop these men, that this city will not be rebuilt until I issue a decree” (Ezra 4:21). Shimshai then participates in the immediate enforcement: “As soon as the text of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went hurriedly to the Jews in Jerusalem and forced them to stop by military power” (Ezra 4:23).

Administrative Profile

Ancient scribes served far more than clerical roles; they were literate bureaucrats responsible for drafting legislation, preserving archives, and promulgating royal policy. Shimshai therefore represents the official intellectual force behind Samaria’s politically driven opposition. His collaboration with Rehum illustrates the synergy between executive authority and the pen of statecraft.

Theological Significance

1. Contest Against God’s Purposes

Shimshai’s resistance underscores the recurrent biblical motif of human opposition to the divine agenda. Yet the book of Ezra proceeds to show that “the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews” (Ezra 5:5). Persian interference proves temporary; God’s covenant plans advance despite imperial decrees.

2. Providence Over Empires

Shimshai’s governmental letter exemplifies how imperial politics can serve as unwitting instruments in God’s broader narrative. The stoppage created a fifteen-year interlude, setting the stage for prophetic ministries (Haggai, Zechariah) that reignited covenant zeal and led to a deeper spiritual renewal, not merely architectural progress.

3. The Written Word—Weapon or Witness

Shimshai’s scroll attempts to thwart God’s mission; Ezra’s scroll proclaims and preserves it. The episode highlights the twofold power of writing in Scripture: it can oppose the kingdom or advance it, depending on whether the scribe wields the pen against or for the Word of God.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Expect and recognize sophisticated opposition. Hostility may come through legal edict, intellectual argument, or bureaucratic maneuvering, not solely through overt persecution.
• Discouragement can follow delayed promises, yet faith rests in God’s unhurried sovereignty. The chronicled pause of rebuilding magnifies the divine ability to resume and complete His work.
• Leadership needs both prophetic boldness and administrative diligence. Where Shimshai used his office to hinder, Ezra—himself a priestly scribe—uses the same vocation to teach, reform, and covenantally renew the people (Ezra 7; Nehemiah 8).

Legacy in Redemptive History

Shimshai swiftly disappears from the record after Ezra 4, eclipsed by God’s triumphant continuation of His purposes. His brief cameo stands as a cautionary emblem: earthly power aligned against God’s covenant people is transient and ultimately futile. Conversely, the account assures believers that even prolonged delays cannot annul what the Lord has decreed.

וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י וְשִׁמְשַׁ֥י וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ ושמשי veshimShai wə·šim·šay wəšimšayInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts