יָשִׁישׁ
𐤉𐤔𐤉𐤔
yâshîysh
H3453 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An elderly man; one who is advanced in age, typically with connotations of social standing, experience, and respect. The term may be descriptive (simply indicating old age) or carry a nuance of venerability or authority associated with age, especially in a communal or leadership context. It is not merely a biological term for old age, but can reflect the esteemed status of elders within ancient Israelite society. The word primarily designates a significantly older man, sometimes emphasized as 'very old' or 'ancient' as compared to other age-related terms.
Semantic Range
elderly man, very aged man, ancient man, venerable senior, one advanced in years, respected old man
Root / Etymology
From the root יָשֵׁשׁ (yāshēsh), which means 'to become old,' 'to grow aged,' or 'to decay.' יָשִׁישׁ is a derived form (probably an intensive or descriptive adjective or substantive) referring specifically to an aged man. The root emphasizes the process or state of advanced age. While יָשֵׁשׁ describes the action of becoming old, יָשִׁישׁ denotes the result—a person who is old.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The use of יָשִׁישׁ in the Hebrew Bible is relatively infrequent and often poetic or formal. It appears in wisdom literature (e.g., Job 12:20; 29:8; Isaiah 65:20) to highlight the status or perspective of the elderly within society. In contrast with זָקֵן (zāqēn, another common term for an old man or elder, which also becomes a technical title for a community leader or council elder), יָשִׁישׁ emphasizes chronological age over function or office. It is generally a descriptive term, conveying advanced years and sometimes frailty, but also the experience and gravitas that could accompany age. English translations vary—'aged man,' 'very old man,' or 'ancient'—but may not always capture the distinction in social nuance or respect suggested by the original Hebrew. The term is rarely, if ever, used for women; its feminine form (יָשִׁישָׁה) is unattested. Over time, as social structures and terminology shifted (especially post-exile), the term declined in usage, supplanted by other words in later Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָשֵׁשׁ; an old man; (very) aged (man), ancient, very old.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ישש (y-š-š) — to become old, to age, to decay
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3453-01 |
בִּֽ/ישִׁישִׁ֥ים | bishishim | HR/Aampa |
with the aged | with venerable aged men | 1 |
H3453-04 |
יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים | yeshishim | HAampa |
aged | venerable aged men | 1 |
H3453-02 |
וִֽ֝/ישִׁישִׁים | vishishim | HC/Aampa |
and the aged | venerable aged men | 1 |
H3453-03 |
יָשִׁ֣ישׁ | yashish | HAamsa |
aged | very aged man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3453-01 |
Job 12:12 | בִּֽ/ישִׁישִׁ֥ים | bishishim | HR/Aampa |
with the aged | with venerable aged men |
H3453-03 |
Job 15:10 | יָשִׁ֣ישׁ | yashish | HAamsa |
aged | very aged man |
H3453-02 |
Job 29:8 | וִֽ֝/ישִׁישִׁים | vishishim | HC/Aampa |
and the aged | venerable aged men |
H3453-04 |
Job 32:6 | יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים | yeshishim | HAampa |
aged | venerable aged men |