יִצְחַר
𐤉𐤑𐤇𐤓
Yitsechar
H3328 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yitschar is a personal name referring to an Israelite individual, specifically a Levitical ancestor. The name likely means 'fresh oil' or 'olive oil,' drawing on symbolism of brightness or radiance. In biblical texts, it designates a member of the Kohathite Levitical clan, functioning as a genealogical marker.
Semantic Range
personal name (Yitschar), 'fresh oil,' glistening oil; associated in context with Levitical genealogy; by extension, possible reference to oil’s brightness or freshness
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root צהר (ts-ḥ-r), core meaning 'to shine, be bright.' The name יִצְחַר is typically understood as a noun form meaning 'fresh oil' or 'shining oil,' with the idea of oil’s sheen or brightness. The root meaning ('to shine') is distinct from the precise lexical sense of the name, which aligns with oil’s appearance and function. Compare צַחַר (tsachar) meaning 'to see clearly, to shine.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
יִצְחַר appears in genealogical lists as the name of a son of Kohath, making him an ancestor of a major clan within the Israelite Levitical tradition (see Exodus 6:18, Numbers 3:19, etc.). The semantic field of the root includes brightness and shining, which in later Hebrew comes to denote clarity or oil’s glistening sheen. The name is not an adjective or verb but a personal name — English translations typically render it phonetically as 'Izhar'; rarely, KJV margin offers 'Zehoar,' a variant of uncertain origin. There is no evidence that 'shine' was a lexical definition applied to persons named יִצְחַר; the connection to oil is best supported by comparative Semitic evidence and later Hebrew usage. As a theophoric or symbolic name, it may have indicated hoped-for qualities (radiance, freshness) or reflected the importance of oil in ritual and daily life. The term does not carry an explicit ethnic or religious meaning but is confined to these specific genealogical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as צַחַר; he will shine; Jitschar, an Israelite; and Zehoar (from the margin).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צחר (ts-ḥ-r) — to shine, be bright, glisten, radiate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6713 | צַחַר | gleaming whiteness |
| H6714 | צֹחַר | Tsochar |
| H6715 | צָחֹר | bright-white ones |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3328-01 |
יצחר | ytschr | HNp |
Izhar | Shining Oil | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3328-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:7 | יצחר | ytschr | HNp |
Izhar | Shining Oil |