Shealtiel

Shealtiel, also spelled Shaltiel or Salathiel, is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament genealogies. His name in Hebrew means “I have asked of God.” He is described as the son of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, who was exiled to Babylon. He is best known as the father of Zerubbabel, a leading figure in the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

In the biblical genealogies, Shealtiel appears as a link between the royal line of David and the post-exilic leaders. In the Gospel of Matthew, he is listed as the son of Jeconiah and the father of Zerubbabel, continuing the Davidic line into the Persian period. In Luke's genealogy, a related line also places him in the ancestry of Jesus. However, the exact order of generations differs in textual tradition, and the two genealogies diverge in other respects.

Beyond his role as a genealogical figure, there are few narrative details about his life in the biblical text. As a result, his significance rests on his position in the lineage rather than on stories about his deeds.

Scholars note spelling variants such as Salathiel, Shelathiel, or Shelteel in English translations. Overall, Shealtiel is a minor but pivotal link in the continuity of the Davidic line from the monarchy through exile to the post-exilic community.