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אִשָּׁה (ish.shah)

ish.shah

woman

H0802 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 646 verses

H:N-F

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
646 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-F

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun ishshah refers broadly to a woman, encompassing every age and condition. It stands as the feminine counterpart to ish (man), describing the female sex in general terms. This basic meaning extends to specific animals, where it identifies the female of a species, much like the Latin femina or Greek gynē.

Context often clarifies whether the word denotes a wife or simply an adult female. In Genesis 2:23, Adam calls Eve ishshah, highlighting her identity as a woman equal to himself. The term frequently appears in legal and narrative texts to specify marital status, such as when laws address adultery or inheritance rights involving a wife.

The lexica note a distinctive usage where ishshah functions distributively to mean "each" or "every" woman. This occurs in passages like Judges 21:10, where the Israelites are instructed to destroy every female among the Midianites. Here the word shifts from identifying a person to quantifying a group, emphasizing total inclusion.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word ishshah carries the weight of human identity, appearing over six hundred times in Scripture. It is not merely a biological label but a term that defines relationship and dignity. In Genesis 2:23, Adam recognizes Eve as bone of his bones, establishing an equality that precedes any cultural hierarchy. This foundational moment reminds us that every woman reflects the image of God, worthy of respect and honor in the eyes of the Creator.

While the word often denotes a wife within the covenant of marriage, its scope is broader, encompassing daughters, mothers, and even female animals. It appears in narratives of joy and sorrow, from the innocence of Eden to the complexities of family life. Understanding this term helps us see how Scripture values women not as secondary figures but as essential partners in the human story.

When we encounter ishshah in our reading, we are invited to reflect on the sacredness of female identity. It calls us to treat every woman with the same reverence Adam showed Eve. This word anchors our understanding of community and kinship, reminding us that we are all connected through this shared human heritage.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 646 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • the/ woman98×
  • [the] wife of75×
  • a woman74×
  • wife/ his63×
  • to/ a wife39×
  • a wife38×
  • the/ women32×
  • women26×
  • wives24×
  • wives/ his13×
  • and/ a woman13×
  • woman12×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • אֵ֣שֶׁת32×
  • לְ/אִשָּֽׁה\׃25×
  • אִשָּׁ֖ה22×
  • אִשָּׁ֥ה20×
  • אֵֽשֶׁת\־19×
  • אִשָּׁ֔ה19×
  • הָ/אִשָּׁ֖ה18×
  • אֵ֥שֶׁת17×
  • אִשָּׁ֣ה17×
  • הָֽ/אִשָּׁ֔ה16×
  • אִשְׁתּ֔/וֹ16×
  • הָֽ/אִשָּׁה֙14×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 2:23
    The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.”

    This verse captures the moment of recognition where Adam identifies Eve as his equal, using ishshah to establish her distinct yet unified identity with man.

  • Genesis 3:15
    I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”

    Here ishshah is central to the first promise of redemption, highlighting the woman’s role in the spiritual conflict between good and evil.

  • Genesis 2:24
    Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

    The term appears as 'wife' in this foundational text on marriage, illustrating the covenantal bond that joins two people into one flesh.

  • Genesis 3:20
    The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.

    Adam names his wife Eve, linking ishshah directly to the concept of life and motherhood for all living beings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word ishshah mean?

Ishshah is a noun that primarily means woman. It refers to an adult female human being and can also denote a wife depending on the context. The term appears frequently in both narrative and legal texts throughout the Old Testament.

How is ishshah different from other words for woman?

While ishshah is the general term for woman, other words like bagarah may refer to a young woman or maiden. Ishshah emphasizes the mature female identity and is often used in contrast to ish (man) to highlight relational dynamics.

Where does ishshah appear most significantly?

It appears prominently in Genesis, particularly in the creation account and the fall narrative. Key occurrences include Genesis 2:23 where Eve is named, and Genesis 3:15 where she is part of the proto-evangelium.

Every Occurrence (646 verses across 31 books)

Genesis 131 verses
Genesis 2:22

Yahweh God made a woman from the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:23

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken…

Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

Genesis 2:25

The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God…

Genesis 3:2

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,

Genesis 3:4

The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t really die,

Genesis 3:6

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be…

Genesis 3:8

They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves…

Genesis 3:12

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Genesis 3:13

Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:15

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head,…

Genesis 3:16

To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. You will bear children in pain. Your desire…

Genesis 3:17

To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded…

Genesis 3:20

The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.

Genesis 3:21

Yahweh God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

Genesis 4:1

The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”

Genesis 4:17

Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his…

Genesis 4:19

Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.

Genesis 4:23

Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a…

Genesis 4:25

Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child…

Genesis 6:2

God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.

Genesis 6:18

But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’…

Genesis 7:2

You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean,…

Genesis 7:7

Noah went into the ship with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the floodwaters.

Genesis 7:13

In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the sons of Noah—and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with…

Genesis 8:16

“Go out of the ship, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you.

Genesis 8:18

Noah went out, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him.

Genesis 11:29

Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the…

Genesis 11:31

Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife.…

Genesis 12:5

Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom…

Genesis 12:11

When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…

Genesis 12:12

It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will…

Genesis 12:14

When Abram had come into Egypt, some Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:15

The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

Genesis 12:17

Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 12:18

Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?

Genesis 12:19

Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go…

Genesis 12:20

Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.

Genesis 13:1

Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.

Genesis 14:16

He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other…

Genesis 16:1

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Genesis 16:3

Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and…

Genesis 17:15

God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.

Genesis 17:19

God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant…

Genesis 18:9

They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”

Genesis 18:10

He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”…

Genesis 18:11

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Genesis 19:15

When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are…

Genesis 19:16

But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to…

Genesis 19:26

But Lot’s wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 20:2

Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Genesis 20:3

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman…

Genesis 20:7

Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t…

Genesis 20:11

Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

Genesis 20:12

Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Genesis 20:14

Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his…

Genesis 20:17

Abraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.

Genesis 20:18

For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 21:21

He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 23:19

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the…

Genesis 24:3

I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son…

Genesis 24:4

But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Genesis 24:5

The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the…

Genesis 24:7

Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who…

Genesis 24:8

If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son…

Genesis 24:15

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of…

Genesis 24:36

Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

Genesis 24:37

My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose…

Genesis 24:38

but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’

Genesis 24:39

I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

Genesis 24:40

He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife…

Genesis 24:44

then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my…

Genesis 24:51

Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

Genesis 24:67

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was…

Genesis 25:1

Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.

Genesis 25:10

the field which Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.

Genesis 25:20

Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban…

Genesis 25:21

Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife…

Genesis 26:7

The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest,…

Genesis 26:8

When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…

Genesis 26:9

Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to…

Genesis 26:10

Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you…

Genesis 26:11

Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Genesis 26:34

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of…

Genesis 27:46

Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters…

Genesis 28:1

Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Genesis 28:2

Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of…

Genesis 28:6

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as…

Genesis 28:9

So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s…

Genesis 29:21

Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

Genesis 29:28

Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.

Genesis 30:4

She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Genesis 30:9

When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

Genesis 30:26

Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have…

Genesis 31:17

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,

Genesis 31:35

She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He…

Genesis 31:50

If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is…

Genesis 33:5

He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children…

Genesis 34:4

Shechem spoke to his father, Hamor, saying, “Get me this young lady as a wife.”

Genesis 34:8

Hamor talked with them, saying, “The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.

Genesis 34:12

Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife.”

Genesis 34:21

“These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large…

Genesis 34:29

and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was…

Genesis 36:2

Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter…

Genesis 36:6

Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his…

Genesis 36:10

these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the…

Genesis 36:12

Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s…

Genesis 36:13

These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

Genesis 36:14

These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush,…

Genesis 36:17

These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs…

Genesis 36:18

These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of…

Genesis 36:39

Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was…

Genesis 37:2

This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his…

Genesis 38:6

Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Genesis 38:8

Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up…

Genesis 38:9

Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…

Genesis 38:12

After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to…

Genesis 38:14

She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate…

Genesis 38:20

Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but…

Genesis 39:7

After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”

Genesis 39:8

But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…

Genesis 39:9

No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…

Genesis 39:19

When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his…

Genesis 41:45

Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife.…

Genesis 44:27

Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

Genesis 45:19

Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and…

Genesis 46:5

Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives,…

Genesis 46:19

The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis 46:26

All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct offspring, in addition to Jacob’s sons’ wives, all…

Genesis 49:31

There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:

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