יְהֹוָה נִסִּי
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤍𐤎𐤉
Yehovah Nisi
H3071 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A theophoric phrase meaning 'YHWH is my banner' or 'YHWH is my standard.' Used in Exodus 17:15 as the name Moses gives to an altar, expressing the idea that YHWH is the rallying point, sign, or flag of deliverance for the Israelites. The phrase draws on the imagery of a military or communal standard around which a group gathers, signifying YHWH as the source and symbol of Israelite unity and victory.
Semantic Range
the name of an altar commemorating YHWH’s deliverance, YHWH as a rallying point or standard for the people, symbolic representation of divine support or protection
Root / Etymology
Formed from יְהֹוָה (YHWH), the personal name of Israel’s God, and נֵס (nes), 'banner, standard, signal,' with first-person singular possessive suffix -י ('my'). The phrase יְהֹוָה נִסִּי means literally 'YHWH my banner.' Root of נֵס is נסס, with core meaning 'to lift up, display as a signal.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
יְהֹוָה נִסִּי appears uniquely in Exodus 17:15, naming the altar Moses built after the battle with Amalek. The phrase is an example of an altar or location name reflecting a theological or commemorative message, characteristic of several narratives in the Torah (cf. Genesis 22:14, Exodus 17:7). The term נֵס (banner) in Hebrew signifies more than a military flag; it references an elevated sign visible to a group, often as a symbol of rallying or deliverance (see Numbers 21:8–9, Isaiah 11:10). The use of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) in this phrase is typical of pre-exilic Israelite religion; later translations and traditions render יְהֹוָה as 'the LORD,' and the altar name as 'the LORD is my banner.' The English term 'Jehovah' reflects an inaccurate vocalization and is not historically accurate for the period. This theophoric formula marks YHWH as the unifying principle or the sign under which the Israelites gather. The association with 'banner' is symbolic, not literal, and should not be understood as a depiction of a concrete object but rather as a conceptual emblem of divine support and identity. In post-biblical or later Judean literature, the phrase is interpreted in increasingly symbolic or spiritualized ways, sometimes associated with deliverance or victory.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יְהֹוָה and נֵס with the prononimal suffix; Jehovah (is) my banner; Jehovah-Nissi, a symbolical name of an altar in the Desert; Jehovah-nissi.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נסס (n-s-s) — to lift up, raise high, display as a signal, set up a standard
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5251 | נֵס | the raised standard |
| H5263 | נָסַס | the one growing weak |
| H5264 | נָסַס | those displaying themselves conspicuously |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3071-01 |
נִסִּֽ/י | nisi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my banner | my banner | 1 |
H3071-02 |
יְהוָ֥ה | yehvah | HNp |
YHWH | Yahweh | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3071-02 |
Exodus 17:15 | יְהוָ֥ה | yehvah | HNp |
YHWH | Yahweh |
H3071-01 |
Exodus 17:15 | נִסִּֽ/י | nisi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my banner | my banner |