גִּשְׁפָּא
𐤂𐤔𐤐𐤀
Gishepa
H1658 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name—Gishpâ—a post-exilic Israelite, specifically listed among those returning from Babylonian exile. The term is used solely as a proper name and does not bear a meaning as a common noun; its purpose is to identify an individual within a genealogical or community context. It does not convey intrinsic semantic content beyond this function.
Semantic Range
personal name, specifically a post-exilic Israelite (likely head of a family or group among the Nethinim); not used as a common noun
Root / Etymology
etymology uncertain; the word does not correspond directly to any known Hebrew root, and no clear derivation can be established from other Semitic languages. It is used only as a proper name (see Nehemiah 11:21).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Gishpâ appears only in Nehemiah 11:21, naming a leader or head among the Nethinim (temple servants) who resided in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The name is included in the genealogical lists that serve to record the restoration community's members and leaders. Its unattested root makes it unique among biblical Hebrew personal names, and no comparable meanings from Hebrew roots or cognate languages can be identified. In English translations, 'Gishpa' or 'Gispa' are used as transliterations; no attempt is made to interpret the meaning since it lacks a known etymology. The name does not recur in other biblical or extra-biblical sources, nor is it associated with any specific action, office, or attribute beyond group identity. Its occurrence is limited to the Persian period (post-exilic Yehud), reflecting the context of community restoration.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; Gishpa, an Israelite; Gispa.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain (proper name only)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1658-01 |
וְ/גִשְׁפָּ֖א | vegishepa | HC/Np |
and Gishpa | and Gishpâ | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1658-01 |
Nehemiah 11:21 | וְ/גִשְׁפָּ֖א | vegishepa | HC/Np |
and Gishpa | and Gishpâ |