SHESHACH

(Sheʹshach).

Probably a symbolic name for Babylon. (Jer. 25:26; 51:41) One suggestion is that “Sheshach” means “copper-gated,” and this would fit Babylon. Still another view is that “Sheshach” stood for SiskuKI of an old Babylonian royal register. Sisku or Siska may have been a district of ancient Babylon. Jewish tradition, however, has it that Sheshach is a cipher for the Hebrew name Babel (or, Babylon), by the device known as “athbash.” According to this cryptographical system, the true name is disguised by replacing the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet (taw) with the first (ʼaʹleph), and the second-last letter (shin) with the second (behth), and so on. Consequently, in “Babel” each behth (b) would be changed to shin (sh), and the laʹmedh (l) to kaph (kh), thus becoming She·shakhʹ. The name “Sheshach” may also imply humiliation, for which Babylon was due.