The meaning of Shethar-bozenai, Shethar-boznai in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

she'-thar-boz'-e-ni, she'-thar-boz'-ni, -boz'-na-i, (shethar boznay, meaning uncertain): The name of a Persian (?) official mentioned with Tattenai in connection with the correspondence with Darius relative to the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 5:3, Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:6, Ezra 6:12; Codex Vaticanus Satharbouzan; Codex Alexandrinus Satharbouzanai, in Ezra 5:3; Ezra 6:13; Satharbouzanes, in Ezra 5:6; Satharbouzane, in Ezra 6:6; Lucian, throughout, Tharbouzanaios), called in 1 Esdras 6:3,7,27; 7:1 "Shathrabuzanes."

Among the conjectures as to the meaning and derivation of the name, the following may be mentioned: (1) Shethar-boznai may be a corruption of metharboznay = Mithrobouzanes, Old Persian Mithrobauzana—i.e. "Mithra is deliverer." (2) shathar is identical with the Old Persian Tsithra ("seed," "brilliance"); names have been found that are confounded with this word. (3) shethar bowzenay may be a title, but sethar, must then be read for shethar. (4) shethar boznay is equivalent to the Old Persian Sethrabuzana, "empire-delivering"; compare Encyclopedia Biblica, article "Shethar-boznai," and Brown, Driver, and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament.

Horace J. Wolf

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