Shobek is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Shobek was one of the leaders of Israel who sealed a covenant to follow God’s law during the time of Nehemiah. He is mentioned only once in Scripture, in Nehemiah 10:24, where his name appears in a long list of men who put their seal to a written agreement. This occurred after the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the people had gathered to hear the Law of Moses read aloud. Convicted of their sin and moved to repentance, the people pledged themselves to obey God’s commandments, and their leaders formally ratified that pledge on their behalf.
The setting of Nehemiah 10 is a solemn assembly. The people had wept as the Law was read, had confessed their sins, and had committed themselves to walk in God’s ways. Nehemiah 9 records the prayer of confession, and Nehemiah 10 records the resulting covenant. Verse 1 names Nehemiah the governor and Zedekiah, and then a long list of priests, Levites, and leaders follows. Shobek appears among the final group of names in verse 24, alongside Hallohesh and Pileha.
Scripture tells us nothing else about Shobek—no family line, no tribe, no later deeds. What we know is that he was counted among those whose seal bound the nation to faithfulness. He did not merely agree with the covenant in his heart; he attached his name and his seal to it publicly. In a moment of national renewal, Shobek stood with the leaders of Israel as a witness and a pledge.
The Name
The meaning of the name Shobek is not clearly recoverable from the Hebrew text. It appears only here in the Old Testament, and no root or derivation is established with confidence. Some have speculated about possible connections to words for “forsaking” or “leave,” but these suggestions are uncertain and not widely attested. Since the meaning is not well established, it is best to say so plainly rather than assign a meaning the text does not give.
A Closing Thought
Shobek’s single verse reminds us that faithfulness is often recorded in quiet, unremarkable ways. He did not lead an army, perform a miracle, or preach a sermon. He simply sealed a covenant to obey God, and his name was written down. Most of us will live lives that look similar—small, steady acts of obedience rather than dramatic moments. Yet God keeps the record. A sealed commitment to follow Him is never wasted, even when no one else remembers our name. Heaven does.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nehemiah 10:24 — Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,