פּוּאָה
𐤐𐤅𐤀𐤄
Puah
H6312 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name denoting two individuals in the Hebrew Bible: (1) One of the midwives who, with Shiphrah, defied Pharaoh's order and allowed Israelite male infants to live (Exodus 1:15); (2) An ancestor of a family or clan among the descendants of Issachar (Numbers 26:23, sometimes rendered as 'Puvvah' or 'Puah'). The word in itself does not function as a common noun outside of its usage as a personal name. The meaning of the name is possibly connected to the idea of 'shout,' 'cry,' or 'utterance,' based on the root, but in context it serves strictly as a proper noun.
Semantic Range
personal name of individuals (both male and female) in genealogical or narrative contexts; no common noun uses; possibly, one who calls/shouts (based on the root, but not an attested lexical meaning)
Root / Etymology
From the root פָּאָה (pāʾâ), 'to cry out,' 'to utter,' or 'to call.' The specific etymology is somewhat uncertain, as such personal names are sometimes based on sounds, family tradition, or other associations rather than direct lexical derivation, but the form likely denotes a person known for uttering or calling—as in, 'one who cries out.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name פּוּאָה appears twice in the Hebrew Bible in distinct genealogical and narrative contexts. In Exodus 1:15, Puah is a midwife acting on behalf of the Israelites in Egypt, a critical figure in early Israelite traditions. In Numbers 26:23 and 1 Chronicles 7:1, Puah/Puvvah appears as a male ancestor in the tribe of Issachar. The alternate spelling ףֻוָּה (Puvvah, sometimes spelled Phuvah in English traditions) reflects dialectal or textual variations. In later translation traditions, especially Septuagint and Vulgate, the names were Hellenized or Latinized, sometimes resulting in further diversity in English renderings (such as Phuvah, Pua, Puah). English translations sometimes use the term 'Jewish' in reference to the midwives, but this would be anachronistic for the context of Exodus, where 'Israelite' is historically accurate. The name has no common noun usage and functions exclusively as a proper name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or פֻּוָּה; from פָּאָה; a blast; Puah or Puvvah, the name of two Israelites; Phuvah, Pua, Puah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פאה (p-ʾ-h) — to cry out, to utter, to call
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6284 | פָּאָה | let me blow-scatter them |
| H6285 | פֵּאָה | in edge of |
| H6310 | פֶּה | by a mouth |
| H6367 | פִּי הַחִירֹת | mouth of |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6312-01 |
לְ/פֻוָ֕ה | lefuvah | HR/Np |
Puah | to Puah | 1 |
H6312-02 |
פּוּאָ֛ה | puah | HNp |
Puah | Puah | 1 |
H6312-03 |
וּ/פוּאָ֛ה | ufuah | HC/Np |
and Puah | and Puah | 1 |
H6312-04 |
וּ/פֻוָּ֖ה | ufuvah | HC/Np |
and Puvah | and Puah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6312-04 |
Genesis 46:13 | וּ/פֻוָּ֖ה | ufuvah | HC/Np |
and Puvah | and Puah |
H6312-01 |
Numbers 26:23 | לְ/פֻוָ֕ה | lefuvah | HR/Np |
Puah | to Puah |
H6312-02 |
Judges 10:1 | פּוּאָ֛ה | puah | HNp |
Puah | Puah |
H6312-03 |
1 Chronicles 7:1 | וּ/פוּאָ֛ה | ufuah | HC/Np |
and Puah | and Puah |