Hashabnah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Hashabnah was one of the leaders of Israel who sealed the covenant during the restoration of Jerusalem under Nehemiah’s governorship. He is mentioned only once in the King James Bible, in Nehemiah 10:25, where he appears in a list of names: “Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah.” These men are among those who affixed their seal to a written agreement made before God in the days following the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.
The setting is significant. After the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the people had gathered to hear the Law read aloud, they responded with confession and commitment. Nehemiah 10 records the formal sealing of a covenant in which the people bound themselves to walk in God’s law, to keep His commandments, and to maintain the worship and service of the temple. The document was sealed by the governor, the priests, the Levites, and the heads of the people. Hashabnah is numbered among these leaders, indicating that he held a position of responsibility and was recognized as a representative of the community.
Scripture says nothing further about Hashabnah beyond his name in this list. We are not told his tribe, his father, his specific office, or any deed he performed. What we know is that he was counted among those whose seal ratified a solemn pledge to obey God and support His house. His inclusion in the list is itself the testimony: he was a man whose name stood with those who publicly committed themselves to the LORD in a time of national renewal.
The Name
The name Hashabnah is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from standard Hebrew lexicons with any certainty. It appears to be a compound or derived form, possibly related to a root associated with “reckoning” or “esteem,” but scholars do not agree on a definitive meaning, and no established translation can be affirmed confidently. It is better to say plainly that the meaning of this name is uncertain than to assign it a meaning that the evidence does not support.
A Closing Thought
Hashabnah’s single verse reminds us that faithfulness is often recorded in quiet ways. He did not lead an army or preach a sermon; he sealed a covenant and stood with God’s people in a season of renewal. Most of us will not be remembered for great public acts, but we can be counted among those who quietly bind themselves to the Lord and keep their word. God keeps the record, and a name written in a list of the faithful is no small thing.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nehemiah 10:25 — Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,