תִּשְׁבִּי (tish.bi)
tish.bi
Tishbite
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The word tishbi is a gentilic adjective meaning “Tishbite,” identifying someone as an inhabitant of the town of Tishbe. It appears six times in the Hebrew Bible, exclusively to describe the prophet Elijah. The term derives from the place name Tishbe (tishbeh), which Strong’s Concordance and other sources link to a root meaning “captivity” or “exile,” though the exact location of this town remains unidentified in modern geography.
Because Elijah is the only biblical figure given this title, the word functions as a distinctive marker of his identity. In 1 Kings 17:1 and 2 Kings 1:3, the label serves to ground the prophet in a specific, albeit obscure, locale. The repeated use of tishbi emphasizes that even a powerful messenger of God can come from an unknown or marginalized place, highlighting that his authority stems from his calling rather than his origin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The title 'Tishbite' identifies the prophet Elijah as a resident of Tishbe, a town whose exact location remains unknown today. This obscurity serves as a quiet reminder that God’s messengers often come from places or backgrounds that history has forgotten. Elijah’s authority did not stem from his lineage or his hometown’s fame, but solely from his calling to stand before the Lord.
When Elijah declared there would be no rain over Israel, he spoke with confidence because he stood in the presence of God (1 Kings 17:1). His identity as a Tishbite highlights that your origin does not limit your purpose. Even if you feel overlooked or from an insignificant place, God can use you deeply when you are willing to stand for Him.
This word encourages us to look past external status and focus on faithfulness. Whether you come from a prominent background or an obscure one, your value is defined by your relationship with God, not by the name of your hometown.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Tishbite6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/תִּשְׁבִּ֖י4×
- הַ/תִּשְׁבִּ֜י1×
- הַ/תִּשְׁבִּ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 17:1
Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
This verse introduces Elijah as a Tishbite while he confronts King Ahab, establishing that his bold message comes from an obscure origin rather than royal power.
-
II Kings 1:8
They answered him, “He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”
Here the title is used by others to identify Elijah based on his distinctive appearance, showing how his unique calling set him apart from ordinary people.
-
II Kings 9:36
Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel,
The term confirms the fulfillment of prophecy spoken through this specific servant, linking the obscure Tishbite to the dramatic judgment of Jezebel.