יִשְׂרְאֵלִית
𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤕
Yisereelit
H3482 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A woman belonging to the people of Israel, that is, a female member of the Israelite ethnos. The term designates a woman by her Israelite lineage or ethnic affiliation rather than by geographic or religious categories. In biblical usage, it primarily serves to distinguish Israelite women from women of other peoples, especially in narratives involving intermarriage or cultural identity.
Semantic Range
Israelite woman, female Israelite, woman of Israelite descent, member of the Israelite people (female), distinguished from women of non-Israelite origin
Root / Etymology
From the root ישראל (Yisra'el), referring to the ethnonym 'Israelite' or 'descendant of Israel (Jacob)', plus the feminine singular adjectival suffix -ית (-it), forming the feminine equivalent of the masculine יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisre'eli). Thus, יִשְׂרְאֵלִית means 'female Israelite' or 'Israelite woman.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
יִשְׂרְאֵלִית is rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing most notably in Leviticus 24:10, which involves a narrative about the son of an 'Israelite woman' and an Egyptian man. Here, the term serves to specify her ethnic affiliation, contrasting her identity with that of non-Israelites. The term is adjectival in form but functions as a substantive noun. English translations often render the term 'Israelitish woman' (older translations) or 'Israelite woman,' but these may obscure the specificity of Israelite ethnic identity in the historical context, especially as contrasted with geographic (Judean) or later religious (Jewish) identity. The form reflects broader patterns in biblical nomenclature for ethnic designations, paralleling both masculine/feminine pairs (e.g., מִצְרִי/מִצְרִית 'Egyptian (m/f)'), and indicating that such terms identify lineage rather than belief or territory. The usage of יִשְׂרְאֵלִית in the Pentateuch predates the later terminology used for Judeans or practitioners of Judaism. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, terms such as Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios, 'Judean') become predominant; however, יִשְׂרְאֵלִית was used specifically within narrative or legal contexts to mark ethnic Israelite distinction, particularly in the pre-exilic sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of יִשְׂרְאֵלִי; a Jisreelitess or female descendant of Jisrael; Israelitish.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ישראל (y-ś-r-ʾ-l) — to strive, contend, be upright
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3482-01 |
הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔ית | hayisereelit | HTd/Ngfsa |
the Israelite | the Israelite woman | 2 |
H3482-02 |
יִשְׂרְאֵלִ֔ית | yisereelit | HNgfsa |
Israelite | Israelite woman | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3482-02 |
Leviticus 24:10 | יִשְׂרְאֵלִ֔ית | yisereelit | HNgfsa |
Israelite | Israelite woman |
H3482-01 |
Leviticus 24:10 | הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔ית | hayisereelit | HTd/Ngfsa |
the Israelite woman | the Israelite woman |
H3482-01 |
Leviticus 24:11 | הַ/יִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֤ית | hayisereelit | HTd/Ngfsa |
the Israelite | the Israelite woman |