יִשְׁמָא (yish.ma)
yish.ma
Ishma
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name yish.ma, rendered in English as Ishma, appears only once in Scripture, recorded in the genealogies of I Chronicles 4:3. It identifies a specific individual from the tribe of Judah during the period associated with Egypt and the wilderness wanderings. He is listed as the son of Hur and the brother of several notable figures, including Uri and Shobal.
The meaning of the name is "desolation." While this single occurrence does not provide a narrative context for why he received this name, its presence in a long list of tribal ancestors highlights the meticulous preservation of Judah’s lineage. The brevity of the record underscores the historical nature of these chapters, which serve to document the family lines rather than individual biographies.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ishma appears in a long list of ancestors in 1 Chronicles 4:3. It means "desolation," yet it is recorded alongside names that suggest strength and blessing. This single mention reminds us that God keeps careful track of every person, even those who appear only as a line in a family tree.
For your faith, this shows that no one is forgotten by God. Your life has value, whether you are known to many or remembered by only a few. The Bible preserves these names to show the continuity of God’s people and His faithful preservation of history through generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Ishma1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יִשְׁמָ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:3
These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. The name of their sister was Hazzelelponi.
This verse lists Ishma as a son of Hur, showing his place in the tribal lineage of Judah without providing narrative details about his life.