Lexical Summary Yishbach: Yishbach Original Word: יִשְׁבַּח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ishbah From shabach; he will praise; Jishbach, an Israelite -- Ishbah. see HEBREW shabach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shabach Definition a man of Judah NASB Translation Ishbah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יִשְׁבָּח proper name, masculine see שׁבח יָשֻׁבִי, יָשָׁבְעָם see שׁוב יִשְׁבָּק see שֹׁבק ישׁה (√ of following; meaning uncertain; accusative Fl DeProverbs 2:7 = Arabic יִשְׁבַּח proper name, masculine in Judah (?; compareLagBN131); — 1 Chronicles 4:17; Μαρεθ, A Ιεσαβα, ᵐ5L Ιασαφατ. שׁבט ( √ of following; compare Assyrian šabâ‰u, smite, slay, šib‰u, rod, scepter; Late Hebrew שֵׁבֶט = Biblical Hebrew, also שָׁבַט beat (denominative? so NöZMG xi(1886), 736, but too sceptical); Sabean סבטם rod, blow, SabDenkmNo 21.1.5; Aramaic שִׁבְטָא, Topical Lexicon Overview יִשְׁבַּח (Yishbah) appears only once in the Old Testament and is remembered as the “father of Eshtemoa” (1 Chronicles 4:17). His brief mention places him within the genealogy of Judah during the post-exilic chronicling of Israel’s tribal history. Though seemingly obscure, his name, location, and family ties illuminate key themes of covenant heritage, cross-cultural grace, and the enduring legacy of worship in Israel. Scriptural Occurrence 1 Chronicles 4:17: “The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered’s wife Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, bore to him Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.” Genealogical Placement and Family Connections • Line of Judah: Yishbah stands in the descendant list of Judah, the royal tribe (Genesis 49:10; 1 Chronicles 4:1). From Clan Leader to City Name: Eshtemoa The Chronicler’s phrase “father of Eshtemoa” indicates that Yishbah founded or led the clan that settled the town. Eshtemoa later: Thus Yishbah’s legacy persists through a community aligned with worship and service. Historical and Geographic Setting Eshtemoa lies about twenty miles south-west of Bethlehem in the Judean hills. Archaeological identifications (Tell es-Semʿa) reveal an Iron-Age settlement with later Judean occupation, matching biblical witness of continuous habitation from the conquest to the monarchy. Yishbah’s founding generation likely occupied the site during the tribal consolidation period, providing a foothold for Judah in the south-central hill country. The Worship Note in the Name Yishbah’s name derives from the Hebrew verb “to praise.” Though the Chronicler does not elaborate, its presence in a worship-oriented genealogy—culminating in a Levitical town—reflects a thematic intertwining of praise, place, and people. The progression from individual (Yishbah), to clan (father of Eshtemoa), to Levitical service traces how praise establishes dwelling and ministry (Psalm 22:3). Ministry Significance and Faith Lessons 1. God values faithfulness in obscurity. A single mention secures Yishbah’s place in Scripture, reminding believers that hidden acts of obedience contribute to God’s redemptive tapestry (Hebrews 6:10). Key References for Further Study Joshua 15:50; 21:14 Forms and Transliterations יִשְׁבָּ֖ח ישבח yiš·bāḥ yišbāḥ yishBachLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:17 HEB: שַׁמַּ֔י וְאֶת־ יִשְׁבָּ֖ח אֲבִ֥י אֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ NAS: Shammai and Ishbah the father KJV: and Shammai, and Ishbah the father INT: Miriam Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa 1 Occurrence |