יִשְׁוִי (yish.vi)
yish.vi
Ishvi
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name yishvi appears only four times in Scripture, identifying two distinct individuals who share a rare biblical moniker. In Genesis 46:17, it marks Ishvi as the third son of Asher, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, establishing him as the ancestor of the family line known as the Ishuaites during the wilderness wanderings.
Centuries later, the name surfaces again in 1 Samuel 14:49 as the second son of King Saul and his wife Ahinoam. The text notes that this royal prince is also called Ishui, a variation that highlights the fluidity of Hebrew naming conventions in the ancient Near East. Both bearers of the name are linked to the meaning "he resembles me," though the sources do not elaborate on who or what they resemble.
As a proper noun, yishvi carries no independent theological weight beyond its genealogical function. It serves as a textual marker connecting the tribal structure of Asher with the royal household of Saul, reminding readers that even minor figures in biblical history are part of a larger, interconnected narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ishvi appears only four times in Scripture, linking two distinct figures across centuries of Israel’s history. In Genesis, it marks a son of Asher, anchoring one family line within the larger tribal structure. Centuries later, the same name surfaces among King Saul’s sons, connecting the early tribal era with the monarchy.
Though not a household name, these brief mentions remind us that every individual in the biblical record has a place. The text does not elaborate on their deeds, yet their inclusion shows how God preserves the memory of ordinary lives within His grand narrative. We are part of a story larger than ourselves, woven into a lineage that stretches from Jacob’s sons to the kings of Israel.
This continuity invites reflection on our own place in faith. Just as these names were preserved, so too is every life accounted for in God’s purposes. The Bible’s attention to detail suggests that no one is overlooked, and every name has significance in the broader tapestry of redemption.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Ishvi3×
- of/ Ishvi1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יִשְׁוִ֥י2×
- לְ/יִשְׁוִ֕י1×
- וְ/יִשְׁוִ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:17
The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
This verse establishes Ishvi as a son of Asher, anchoring his identity within Jacob’s family and the tribal structure of Israel.
-
Numbers 26:44
The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.
Here, Ishvi becomes the eponymous ancestor of the Ishvites, showing how personal names evolved into clan identities during the wilderness wanderings.