She'alti'el is the Hebrew form of Shealtiel, a name best known from the Hebrew Bible. The name derives from the Hebrew roots (shaʾal), meaning “to ask,” and (ʾel), meaning “God,” giving it the meaning “I have asked of God.” This construction reflects a common motif in Semitic naming, where a verb of petition is combined with the divine element to express a personal relationship with God.
Etymology
The root shaʾal (“to ask”) appears in many Hebrew names, such as Sha'ul (Saul), while ʼel is a generic term for God. The full name She'alti'el thus signifies a request made to God, perhaps in gratitude for a child born after prayer. In the Greek Septuagint and New Testament, the name is rendered as Salathiel, while the Latin Vulgate uses Salathihel. These variant forms reflect transcriptional differences between Hebrew and other ancient languages.
Biblical Figure
In the Old Testament, She'alti'el is primarily known as the father of Zerubbabel, the leader who oversaw the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 3–5). However, the name also appears in a different context in 1 Chronicles 3:17–19, where a man named She'alti'el is identified as a son of King Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin). This has led to scholarly debate about whether there were two individuals with the same name or a single line of descent, with some concluding that She'alti'el son of Jeconiah might be the same as the father of Zerubbabel, despite seeming chronological inconsistencies. The name is further mentioned in Haggai 1:14 and Matthew 1:12 as part of the genealogy of Jesus, emphasizing its messianic significance.
Cultural Significance
Among Jewish tradition, the name She'alti'el is not commonly used in the post-exilic period, but it carries weight due to its association with restoration and divine favor. The meaning “I have asked of God” resonates with Hannah’s naming of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:27), linking it to the human experience of praying for progeny. The name’s theological implication—that God hears and answers petitions—makes it a theophoric name par excellence in the Old Testament context.
- Meaning: “I have asked of God”
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: Theophoric, from biblical roots
- Usage: Hebrew Bible