יַחַשׂ
𐤉𐤇𐤔
yachas
H3188 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A record or document detailing family descent, lineage, or genealogy; often used to refer to an official list, register, or account of ancestors and descendants, particularly tracing one's paternal line within the group identity of an Israelite, Judahite, or related community. The term may also be used for the process or the act of recording genealogical data.
Semantic Range
genealogical record, family register, pedigree list, lineage documentation, the act of registration or proving ancestry
Root / Etymology
From the root יחש (y-ḥ-ś), whose core idea relates to registering or reckoning lineage. The noun יַחַשׂ (yachas) arises from this root, denoting the result or product of this action, namely a family record or genealogical register. Cognate terms exist in other Semitic languages (cf. Aramaic יַחְסָא), underscoring the root idea of registering kinship links.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, יַחַשׂ refers primarily to an official genealogy or lineage list, particularly in contexts where lineage determined group membership, inheritance rights, or priestly eligibility (see, for example, Ezra 2:62 and Nehemiah 7:64, in post-exilic context). While the English term 'genealogy' is common, the Hebrew term underscores formal social status and identity within Israelite or Judahite society. The act or document of 'yachas' reflected both kinship structure and administrative needs in maintaining tribal, clan, or priestly order. Notably, this term is mainly attested in the post-exilic literature, reflecting concerns for communal identity preservation and group boundaries during and after the Babylonian exile. Earlier Israelite narratives may use related but distinct terms for familial or tribal descent. Additionally, in late biblical Hebrew and post-biblical literature, the term develops semantic overlap with the process of proving or claiming ancestral legitimacy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָחַשׂ; a pedigree or family list (as growing spontaneously); genealogy.
Bantu Hebrew
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יחש (y-ḥ-ś) — to register lineage, to reckon genealogy, to record family descent
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3188-01 |
הַ/יַּ֨חַשׂ֙ | hayachas | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the genealogy | the lineage register | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3188-01 |
Nehemiah 7:5 | הַ/יַּ֨חַשׂ֙ | hayachas | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the genealogy | the lineage register |