יִשְׂרְאֵלִי
𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋𐤉
Yisereeli
H3481 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A member or descendant of the people called Israel, specifically a person belonging to the ancient tribal confederation tracing ancestry to Jacob (also known as Israel), or more narrowly, a member of the broader ethnic group defined as Israelites during the historical periods of the Hebrew Bible. The term can be used collectively for the people group or individually for a person belonging to this group. In later periods, the term could distinguish Israelites from other related or neighboring groups (such as Judahites or non-Israelite peoples in the land).
Semantic Range
an Israelite (member of the people of Israel), a descendant of Israel (Jacob), pertaining to Israel as a people group, member of the northern kingdom, contrasted with Judahite
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew noun יִשְׂרָאֵל (Israel), itself formed from the root שׂרה (to strive, contend, persist) and אֵל (God), with the adjectival suffix -י (indicating 'of' or 'belonging to'). Thus, יִשְׂרְאֵלִי originally means 'of Israel' or 'Israelite.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisreʼeli) primarily appears in texts referring to individuals distinguished as members of the wider Israelite group, especially in opposition to other groups such as the Canaanites, Philistines, and—importantly—the Judahites, once the united monarchy divided. The term is mostly used in narrative or genealogical contexts to specify ethnic or tribal affiliation, and occasionally as a social or political identity marker. In pre-exilic and monarchic texts, it demarcates those who are part of the community descended from Jacob/Israel, often contrasted with Judahites from the Southern Kingdom post-schism. In Persian and later periods, other terms such as 'Judean' begin to emerge for inhabitants of Yehud (Judea). English translations often use 'Israelite,' which is historically accurate for most biblical contexts, though nuance may be lost if not distinguished from later designations like 'Jew' or 'Judean.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patronymically from יִשְׂרָאֵל; a Jisreelite or descendant of Jisrael; of Israel, Israelite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂרה (ś-r-h) — to strive, contend, persist
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4951 | מִשְׂרָה | the dominion |
| H8280 | שָׂרָה | you persevered and prevailed |
| H8281 | שָׁרָה | I wrestled with you |
| H8304 | שְׂרָיָה | to YHWH-has-prevailed |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3481-01 |
הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִֽי | hayisereeli | HTd/Ngmsa |
of Israel | the Israelite | the Yisereeli | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3481-01 |
Leviticus 24:10 | הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִֽי | hayisereeli | HTd/Ngmsa |
of Israel | the Israelite | the Yisereeli |
H3481-01 |
2 Samuel 17:25 | הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔י | hayisereeli | HTd/Ngmsa |
the-Israelite | the Israelite | the Yisereeli |