יִשְׁעִי
𐤉𐤔𐤏𐤉
Yishei
H3469 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name, likely meaning 'Yahweh saves/protects' or 'My salvation.' Used as the proper name of four distinct individuals in biblical genealogies, with the underlying implication of divine deliverance or salvation.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'my salvation' or 'Yahweh saves'; used exclusively as an Israelite personal name; does not function as a common noun or verbal form in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
The name יִשְׁעִי derives from the root יָשַׁע (y-š-ʿ), meaning 'to save, deliver, rescue.' The form is a construct or possessive singular ('my deliverance' or 'my salvation'), or possibly a theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh is salvation.' The precise vocalization and exact nuance are uncertain, but it is generally recognized as belonging to the family of names constructed from this root (cf. יֵשַׁע, יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, etc.).
Historical & Contextual Notes
יִשְׁעִי appears as a proper name for four different individuals in genealogical lists (see 1 Chronicles 2:31, 2:40, 4:20; 1 Chronicles 5:15). The name reflects a common genre of Israelite theophoric personal names expressing trust in or received help from the deity. It is structurally and semantically related to other names built on the root יָשַׁע (such as יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, Joshua) but is not in itself a title or word meaning 'savior.' English translations sometimes render the name as 'Ishi' or 'Jishi,' but such renderings obscure the original sense. There are other forms in biblical Hebrew using the same root to create theophoric names meaning 'Yahweh (or God) saves,' but this particular form expresses either first-person possession ('my salvation') or a divine epithet. The use of the name does not indicate office, role, or status beyond its bearing as a given name. The English translation 'Jew' or 'Jewish' is not connected to this term and is not appropriate to its period or context. The meaning remains consistent across its occurrences, limited to genealogical contexts with no significant semantic development.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָשַׁע; saving; Jishi, the name of four Israelites; Ishi.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ישׁע (Hoshaeyah) — to save, deliver, help
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1955 | הוֹשַׁעְיָה | Yahweh has saved |
| H3444 | יְשׁוּעָה | in deliverance |
| H3468 | יֶשַׁע | in deliverance |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3469-02 |
יִשְׁעִ֑י | yishei | HNp |
Ishi | my deliverance | Yishei | 4 |
H3469-01 |
וְ/יִשְׁעִ֡י | veyishei | HC/Np |
and-Ishi | My Salvation | and Yishei | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3469-02 |
1 Chronicles 2:31 | יִשְׁעִ֑י | yishei | HNp |
Ishi | my deliverance | Yishei |
H3469-02 |
1 Chronicles 2:31 | יִשְׁעִי֙ | yishei-2 | HNp |
Ishi | my deliverance | Yishei |
H3469-02 |
1 Chronicles 4:20 | יִשְׁעִ֔י | yishei | HNp |
Ishi | my deliverance | Yishei |
H3469-02 |
1 Chronicles 4:42 | יִשְׁעִ֖י | yishei | HNp |
Ishi | my deliverance | Yishei |
H3469-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:24 | וְ/יִשְׁעִ֡י | veyishei | HC/Np |
and-Ishi | My Salvation | and Yishei |