יִשְׁבָּק
𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤒
Yishebaq
H3435 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yishbaq is a personal name, occurring as one of the sons of Abraham by Keturah. The name likely means 'he leaves,' 'he forsakes,' or 'he releases,' reflecting the causative or simple stem sense of the root to leave or abandon. In the context of Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32, it is used exclusively as a proper noun identifying an individual.
Semantic Range
personal name; he (God or a person) leaves, forsakes, lets go, releases (as a name-form); only as personal name in the Tanakh
Root / Etymology
The name derives from the root שׁבק (š-b-q), meaning 'to leave, to abandon, to let go' in both Biblical and later Aramaic/Hebrew usage. In Hebrew, this root is rare or unattested outside of names, but it is common in Aramaic. יִשְׁבָּק is a prefixed form, with the initial י־ indicating a third person masculine singular prefixed imperfect (he will leave/let go).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Yishbaq appears only within genealogical lists in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32, where he is listed among the sons of Abraham and Keturah, associated with early tribal lineages east and south of Canaan. The meaning of the name reflects a verb that is rare in Hebrew but is well attested in Aramaic, where שׁבק means 'to leave, permit, forgive.' The prevalence of this root in neighboring Semitic languages suggests cultural-linguistic cross-pollination and possibly an awareness of broader Northwest Semitic onomastic practices. English translations simply transliterate the name, so the semantic nuance of 'he will leave/permit' is not rendered in typical versions. The name does not appear to carry a distinct theological or narrative import beyond its genealogical function. Sometimes, English translations render this and related terms as 'Ishbak,' but awareness of its possible meaning informs understanding of the naming conventions in the patriarchal period. In Second Temple and later periods, names derived from this root appear more prominently in Aramaic contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root corresponding to שְׁבַק; he will leave; Jishbak, a son of Abraham; Ishbak.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁבק (š-b-q) — to leave, abandon, let go, release, permit
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3435-02 |
יִשְׁבָּ֖ק | yishebaq | HNp |
Ishbak | He Leaves | Yishebaq | 1 |
H3435-01 |
וְ/יִשְׁבָּ֣ק | veyishebaq | HC/Np |
and Ishbak | and He-Leaves | and Yishebaq | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3435-02 |
Genesis 25:2 | יִשְׁבָּ֖ק | yishebaq | HNp |
Ishbak | He Leaves | Yishebaq |
H3435-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:32 | וְ/יִשְׁבָּ֣ק | veyishebaq | HC/Np |
and Ishbak | and He-Leaves | and Yishebaq |