יְהוֹשֶׁבַע
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤁𐤏
Yehosheva
H3089 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'YHWH has sworn' or 'YHWH is (her) oath.' This is a theophoric female personal name appearing in monarchic period narratives, denoting a woman whose naming is articulated as a declaration of oathfulness associated with the Israelite deity YHWH. The name identifies a specific Israelite woman of royal lineage.
Semantic Range
personal name, oath-taking, divine assurance, covenantal affirmation, theophoric designation
Root / Etymology
From the theophoric element יְהוֹ (a form of the divine name YHWH) and the root שָׁבַע (to swear, to take an oath, to bind with an oath), forming a name meaning 'YHWH has sworn' or 'YHWH is oath.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
יְהוֹשֶׁבַע (Yehosheba) is a rare feminine personal name recorded in 2 Kings 11:2 and 2 Chronicles 22:11, designating the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah (a Judahite) and sister or possibly half-sister to King Ahaziah. She played a key role in preserving the Davidic line by rescuing Jehoash (Joash) from the purge of Athaliah. Names constructed with a theophoric prefix (יהו- / יְהוֹ-) and the root for 'oath' reflect a typical Second Temple period naming pattern but are not abundant in biblical texts. In English translations, the name is conventionally rendered as 'Jehosheba,' but this can obscure the original theophoric and oath-related meaning. The male counterpart is יְהוֹשָׁבְעַת (Yehoshev'at; possibly a variant), cited in parallel, but יְהוֹשֶׁבַע is specifically feminine. The use of such compound names signals theological or dynastic aspirations and may indicate parental piety or aspirations regarding the named individual's role in covenantal continuity. Historically, careful attention should be paid to the distinction between ethnic Judahite identity and later Judean or Jewish designations; in context, יְהוֹשֶׁבַע was a Judahite woman in the royal household of the southern kingdom during the monarchic period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יְהֹוָה and שָׁבַע; Jehovah-sworn; Jehosheba, an Israelitess; Jehosheba. Compare יְהוֹשַׁבְעַת.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יהו + שבע (y-h-w + š-b-ʿ) — YHWH, to swear, to take an oath
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3089-01 |
יְהוֹשֶׁ֣בַע | yehosheva | HNp |
Jehosheba | YHWH-has-sworn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3089-01 |
2 Kings 11:2 | יְהוֹשֶׁ֣בַע | yehosheva | HNp |
Jehosheba | YHWH-has-sworn |