מֵישַׁע
𐤌𐤉𐤔𐤏
Meysha
H4338 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating an individual, specifically a Moabite king mentioned in the Hebrew Bible; also possibly denoting 'deliverance' or 'safety' from a distinct but etymologically related root in other contexts. In biblical texts, the primary usage is as a personal name, not a common noun.
Semantic Range
proper name (Mesha, king of Moab); possible derivative sense of 'deliverance' or 'salvation' (rare and only by etymological association, not attested in this form as a common noun)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root יָשַׁע (y-š-ʿ), which means 'to save, to deliver, to rescue.' The form מֵישַׁע represents a proper name likely constructed from a noun form of the root, comparable to 'deliverance' or 'salvation,' but used specifically as a personal name in context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
As a proper name, מֵישַׁע (Mêyshaʻ) is best known as the name of a Moabite king who appears in 2 Kings 3, an important figure in historical interactions between Moab and Israel. The same form appears in extrabiblical sources, such as the Mesha Stele, which further confirms its status as a royal name in Moabite society. Although rooted in the concept of 'deliverance' or 'salvation,' the name in biblical usage functions solely as a proper noun. The form is distinct from the common noun or verb derivatives of יָשַׁע ('salvation,' 'deliver,' etc.), and should not be confused with them in those contexts. English translations usually render it as 'Mesha,' following convention, but this does not convey the original name’s possible connection to the root meaning. In translation tradition, the term has sometimes been associated with the notion of 'safety' or 'deliverance,' but this is etymologically motivated and not functionally significant for its usage in narratives involving the historical Mesha. Later references to Mesha in Second Temple and post-biblical literature preserve the form as a proper name, without any theological connotation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a variation for מֵישָׁע; safety; Mesha, a Moabite; Mesha.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ישע (y-š-ʿ) — to save, to deliver, to help, to rescue
| 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 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4338-01 |
וּ/מֵישַׁ֥ע | umeysha | HC/Np |
And Mesha | And Mesha | and Meysha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4338-01 |
2 Kings 3:4 | וּ/מֵישַׁ֥ע | umeysha | HC/Np |
And Mesha | And Mesha | and Meysha |