3431. Yishbach
Lexical Summary
Yishbach: Yishbach

Original Word: יִשְׁבַּח
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yishbach
Pronunciation: yish-bakh'
Phonetic Spelling: (yish-bakh')
KJV: Ishbah
NASB: Ishbah
Word Origin: [from H7623 (שָׁבַח - To praise)]

1. he will praise
2. Jishbach, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ishbah

From shabach; he will praise; Jishbach, an Israelite -- Ishbah.

see HEBREW shabach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from 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 , III. , variant reading , assist, support: nut this dubious; see Lane60 )compare WetzstZDMG 1868, 119) according to whom this is a second. sense from to make equal (namely, by giving to another of one's own property, etc.))

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, = Biblical Hebrew; loan-word in Egyptian demotic šbtë, plural hieroglyphics ša-b-dï-y, WMMAs.u.Eur.89; LewyFremdw.122 compare σπάθη ).

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).
• Grandson of Ezrah: Ezrah’s sons include Mered, whose Egyptian wife Bithiah bears Yishbah. This union uniquely blends Judahite and Egyptian heritage, testifying to God’s sovereign purpose beyond national boundaries (compare Exodus 12:38).
• Siblings: Miriam and Shammai share Pharaoh’s-daughter Bithiah as mother, linking Yishbah to a family that straddles two cultures yet is recorded without rebuke, underscoring the inclusiveness of covenant grace when aligned with faith in Israel’s God.

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:
• Appears in Judah’s hill-country allotment (Joshua 15:50).
• Becomes a Levitical city for the Kohathites (Joshua 21:14), showing that Yishbah’s territory was ultimately dedicated to priestly ministry.
• Receives spoil from David after victory over the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:28), signifying ongoing participation in the life of the kingdom.

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).
2. Heritage under grace transcends ethnicity. Yishbah’s Egyptian lineage through Bithiah did not disqualify him; rather, it showcased God’s global purpose (Isaiah 19:24-25; Galatians 3:8).
3. Founders shape future worship. Yishbah’s role as “father” set the stage for Eshtemoa’s Levitical service, illustrating how present decisions influence generations of ministry (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
4. Places linked to praise become channels of blessing. David’s later generosity toward Eshtemoa (1 Samuel 30:26-28) exemplifies how communities rooted in worship receive and share covenant blessings.

Key References for Further Study

Joshua 15:50; 21:14

1 Samuel 30:26-28

1 Chronicles 4:17

Psalm 22:3

Isaiah 19:24-25

Hebrews 6:10

Forms and Transliterations
יִשְׁבָּ֖ח ישבח yiš·bāḥ yišbāḥ yishBach
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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

Strong's Hebrew 3431
1 Occurrence


yiš·bāḥ — 1 Occ.

3430
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