יִשְׁמַעְיָה
𐤉𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤉𐤄
Yishemaeyah
H3460 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'Yah(weh) hears' or 'Yah(weh) has heard.' It identifies several individuals in biblical narratives, primarily among Israelite figures. As a theophoric name, it expresses a statement of faith or gratitude that the national deity Yah(weh) listens to prayer or supplication. The word does not refer to a common noun or object, but appears only as a proper name.
Semantic Range
Yah(weh) hears, Yah(weh) has heard (statement of faith or prayer fulfillment), personal name of multiple Israelite figures
Root / Etymology
Formed from the verb שָׁמַע (to hear, listen, obey) and the theophoric suffix יָהּ (abbreviated form of Yahweh). The name combines these elements to mean 'Yah(weh) hears' or 'Yah(weh) has heard.' The two primary forms, יִשְׁמַעְיָה and יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ/יְשְׁמַעְיָהוּ, reflect minor orthographic variation in the theophoric component, with the longer form adding the pronominal suffix -וּ ('his').
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name יִשְׁמַעְיָה and its longer variant יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ/יְשְׁמַעְיָהוּ appears for several figures in the Hebrew Bible, most often associated with positions of leadership, priestly or military service, or membership in Davidic or Levitical genealogies (cf. 1 Chr 7:3, 1 Chr 12:5, 1 Chr 16:5, 2 Chr 23:1, Neh 12:42). The use of theophoric names such as this was common throughout Israelite and Judahite history and usually conveys a statement of trust or experience of divine attention. In the post-exilic period, the use of יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ reflects broader trends in naming that highlight deity-related faith claims. Later English translations sometimes substitute 'Ishmaiah' for these individuals, which may obscure the underlying Hebrew meaning and its theophoric formula. The meaning should be distinguished from the similarly-formed name יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Ishmael, 'El(ohim) hears'), which substitutes different divine elements.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּlemma יְשְׁמַעְיָהוּ first vowel, corrected to יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ; from שָׁמַע and יָהּ; Jah will hear; Jishmajah, the name of two Israelites; Ishmaiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שמע (sh-m-ʿ) — to hear, listen, obey
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2045 | הַשְׁמָעוּת | for proclamation of |
| H3457 | יִשְׁמָא | He-will-hear |
| H3459 | יִשְׁמָעֵאלִי | the Yishmaʿelite |
| H4927 | מִשְׁמָע | Mishma |
| H7889 | שִׁימוֹן | Shimon |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3460-02 |
יִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֖הוּ | yishemaeyahu | HNp |
Ishmaiah | Yahweh hears | 1 |
H3460-01 |
וְ/יִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה | veyishemaeyah | HC/Np |
and Ishmaiah | and Yah-hears | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3460-01 |
1 Chronicles 12:4 | וְ/יִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה | veyishemaeyah | HC/Np |
and Ishmaiah | and Yah-hears |
H3460-02 |
1 Chronicles 27:19 | יִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֖הוּ | yishemaeyahu | HNp |
Ishmaiah | Yahweh hears |