Nebushasban is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Nebushasban was a high official in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He is mentioned only once in the King James Bible, in Jeremiah 39:13, where he appears among the Babylonian princes present at a decisive moment in the history of Jerusalem. His title, Rabsaris, identifies him as a chief officer or court official of significant rank, one of several named leaders serving the king of Babylon during the siege and fall of Jerusalem.
The setting of his appearance is the aftermath of Jerusalem’s capture. After a long siege, the city fell to the Babylonian army. King Zedekiah fled but was captured, and the Babylonians dealt with the city and its people according to the king’s orders. In this context, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sent Nebushasban along with Nergalsharezer and other Babylonian princes. They were dispatched as part of the official company overseeing the events that unfolded in the conquered city.
Scripture does not record any words or individual actions of Nebushasban. He appears only in this single list of names, identified by his title and his association with the other Babylonian officials. What Scripture shows of him is his place among the king of Babylon’s princes at the moment when God’s judgment on Jerusalem was carried out through a foreign power. He stands as one of the named instruments of that kingdom, present at the fulfillment of the word the prophet Jeremiah had spoken.
The Name
The name Nebushasban is Babylonian rather than Hebrew, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the text of Scripture itself. Like several other names in this passage, such as Nebuzaradan and Nergalsharezer, it reflects the language and culture of Babylon. Because the Bible does not explain the name and no meaning is well established from the text, it is best to say plainly that the meaning is uncertain rather than to assign it a definition it may not carry.
A Closing Thought
Nebushasban is remembered for one thing only: he was present when God’s word through Jeremiah came to pass. He held rank and title in a mighty empire, yet he appears in Scripture as a name in a list, a witness to the judgment of God on a city that would not listen. His brief mention reminds us that earthly power and position are fleeting, while the word of the Lord stands forever. Whatever our station in life, the lasting thing is not the title we carry but whether we stand on the side of God’s truth.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Jeremiah 39:13 — So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s princes;