יִשַׁי (yi.shay)
yi.shay
Jesse
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Yishay, known in English as Jesse, was a man of Bethlehem and the father of King David. His name appears frequently in the books of Ruth, Samuel, and Chronicles, anchoring the lineage that connects the Moabite ancestor Boaz to the greatest monarch of Israel. The sources identify him as a shepherd by trade, a humble occupation that stands in contrast to royal grandeur.
The etymology suggests meanings like "I possess" or perhaps "wealthy," yet his social standing was often viewed with disdain. Enemies referred to David contemptuously as "the son of Jesse," using his father’s name to highlight his lowly origins rather than his royal destiny. This tension between humble roots and exalted calling becomes central in Isaiah 11:1, where the prophet speaks of a "stem" or shoot coming from Jesse, pointing toward the Messiah.
Christian tradition recognizes Jesus as both the root and the offspring of David, fulfilling this ancient imagery. The name Yishay thus serves as a bridge between the historical family line and the theological hope of a ruler who would arise from modest beginnings to establish an eternal kingdom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jesse’s name appears throughout Scripture not as a king, but as a father whose family line became the vessel for God’s greatest promises. He lived in Bethlehem, a small town, and worked as a shepherd—a humble trade that required patience and vigilance. His story reminds us that God often chooses to work through ordinary families and quiet lives rather than through immediate power or fame.
The tension in his life is clear: he raised sons who became kings, yet he himself remained in the shadows of history until the prophet Samuel arrived. When God chose David, the youngest son tending sheep, it showed that divine selection does not follow human standards of status or strength. Jesse’s obedience in sending his son to serve Saul and later in trusting God’s call highlights a faithfulness that shaped Israel’s future.
For us, this word points to the value of humble origins and faithful parenting. We do not need grand titles to be part of God’s story. Like Jesse, we can trust that God sees our daily work and uses our families for purposes far beyond what we can imagine. His legacy is a bridge between history and hope, showing that God’s plans unfold through real people in real places.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jesse36×
- and/ Jesse2×
- of/ Jesse1×
- [was] Jesse1×
- <to>/ Jesse1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִשַׁי֙6×
- יִשַׁ֔י6×
- יִשָׁ֑י5×
- יִשַׁ֗י4×
- יִשַׁ֖י4×
- יִשָֽׁי\׃3×
- יִשָׁ֔י2×
- יִשַׁ֜י2×
- יִשַׁ֛י2×
- לְ/יִשַׁי֮1×
- לְ/יִשַׁ֖י1×
- יִשָֽׁי\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 16:1
Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.”
This verse marks the moment God shifts focus from Saul to Jesse’s household, initiating the anointing of a new king from an unexpected family.
-
I Samuel 16:11
Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
Samuel’s question to Jesse reveals that God’s choice often lies outside the visible lineup, highlighting David’s hidden role as a shepherd before his royal destiny.
-
Ruth 4:22
and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.
This genealogical link confirms Jesse’s place in the lineage from Boaz to David, anchoring the historical continuity of Israel’s monarchy.
-
I Samuel 17:58
Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
David identifies himself as Jesse’s son to Saul, using his father’s name to ground his identity in humble Bethlehemite roots rather than royal ambition.