יִשְׁמְרַי
𐤉𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉
Yishemeray
H3461 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Yahweh keeps/guards' or more specifically 'He (God) preserves,' used of an Israelite individual. The name is theophoric, indicating a relationship of preservation or protection from the deity. It appears as a proper name rather than a common noun, and generally refers to an individual associated with the tribe of Benjamin.
Semantic Range
personal name denoting 'he (God) preserves/guards,' used of an Israelite individual; no attested common noun or adjectival use
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁמַר (sh-m-r), meaning 'to keep, guard, preserve.' The name יִשְׁמְרַי is likely a contracted or archaic form, built on the root with a third person singular imperfect prefix (י), sometimes interpreted as a theophoric contraction, and a first person singular suffix/declarative ending, giving the sense 'He keeps/guards for me' or '[God] keeps.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name יִשְׁמְרַי occurs in genealogical lists in 1 Chronicles 8:19 as a descendant of Benjamin. It is used exclusively as a proper personal name; there is no evidence of it being used as a title or common noun. The theophoric nature of the name is indicated by the prefix/yod and the verbal root, typical of Israelite naming conventions during the First Temple period, highlighting a perceived relationship between the individual and the deity as protector. Standard English translations render the name as Ishmerai or Jishmerai, following a later Anglicizing of the Hebrew pronunciation. 'Preservative' as suggested by Strong's does not reflect actual usage; the Hebrew term is never used generically, and its function is exclusively nominative and personal. The name serves as an example of the wider Israelite practice of embedding theological affirmations within personal names. There is no indication of the name being used outside genealogical or historical contexts in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁמַר; preservative; Jishmerai, an Israelite; Ishmerai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שמר (sh-m-r) — keep, guard, watch, preserve
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4929 | מִשְׁמָר | the guard-duty |
| H7763 | שׁוֹמֵר | the guarding one |
| H8068 | שָׁמִיר | like a hard-thorn |
| H8104 | שָׁמַר | in their guarding |
| H8105 | שֶׁמֶר | his lees |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3461-01 |
וְ/יִשְׁמְרַ֧י | veyishemeray | HC/Np |
and Ishmerai | He-preserves | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3461-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:18 | וְ/יִשְׁמְרַ֧י | veyishemeray | HC/Np |
and Ishmerai | He-preserves |