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מֵישָׁע

𐤌𐤉𐤔𐤏

Meysha

H4337 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ישע to save, deliver, bring to safety

Definition

Mesha — a proper noun referring to a named individual appearing in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel. Most often used as a toponym or personal name, not a common noun. The significance lies in identification rather than lexical meaning. The name may carry the underlying sense of 'deliverance' or 'salvation' if derived from the root y-sh-ʿ, though this is interpretive and not functionally evident in narrative usage.

Semantic Range

Mesha (as a proper name); possibly, one saved, deliverance; as toponym or ethnonym elsewhere, but here specifically a personal name in tribal genealogy

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root יָשַׁע (y-sh-ʿ), meaning 'to save, deliver.' The specific form מֵישָׁע likely reflects a noun related to 'deliverance' or functions as a theophoric or declarative name. Some uncertainty exists as to the primary motivation or nuance in naming; 'etymology uncertain' as a constructed meaning in context, but relation to יָשַׁע is recognized in tradition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מֵישָׁע (Mesha) appears as a personal name in tribal genealogies, specifically as a descendant of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:42; 2:44). In these lists, the function is to record ancestral lineage, not to convey the root's abstract sense. The same spelling also appears as a toponym for a region east of the Jordan (Genesis 10:30; 2 Kings 3:4) but with debate regarding exact localization; in those cases, reference is more geographic, while this form in H4337 is personal. The meaning 'safety' or 'deliverance' is not contextually active in narrative but reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of theophoric or virtue names. English translation usually preserves the proper name 'Mesha,' but older translations may obscure the connection with related terms meaning 'deliverance.' Use as an Israelite personal name is distinct from the Moabite king Mesha (2 Kings 3), who is a historical figure outside the Israelite genealogical framework; the biblical and extra-biblical Mesha inscriptions should not be confused.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָשַׁע; safety; Mesha, an Israelite; Mesha.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ישע (y-š-ʿ) — to save, deliver, bring to safety

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1954 הוֹשֵׁעַ in Deliverance
H1955 הוֹשַׁעְיָה Yahweh has saved
H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ in YHWH-saves
H3442 יֵשׁוּעַ to Yeshua
H3443 יֵשׁוּעַ and Yeshua

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4337-01 מֵישָׁ֥ע meysha HNp Mesha Mesha 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4337-01 1 Chronicles 2:42 מֵישָׁ֥ע meysha HNp Mesha Mesha
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