Lexical Summary ishshah: Woman, wife Original Word: אִשָּׁה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adulteress, each, every, female, many, none, one, together, Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as 'enowsh) -- (adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. see HEBREW 'iysh see HEBREW 'enowsh see HEBREW 'enowsh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition woman, wife, female NASB Translation adulteress* (2), any woman (1), childbearing* (1), each (3), each one (1), each woman (1), every (1), everyone (1), female (3), girls* (1), harem* (5), harlot's* (2), harlot* (3), marriage (9), married (3), married* (6), marry* (3), none* (1), one (8), widow (7), wife (274), wife and his wives (2), wife and the wives (1), wife or a woman (1), wife's (8), wives (100), woman (203), woman of the wives (1), woman's (6), women (104), women as wives (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אִשָּׁה775 noun feminine woman, wife, female (Arabic ![]() ![]() ![]() 1 woman Genesis 3:1,2; Genesis 12:11 +; opposed to man Genesis 2:22,23; Exodus 35:29; Exodus 36:6; Deuteronomy 7:2,5; Deuteronomy 22:22; 1 Samuel 21:5 +; ׳א emphatic a Genuine (or ideal) woman Ecclesiastes 7:28 ("" אדם); simile of men as feeble, timid Jeremiah 50:37; Jeremiah 51:30; note especially הַטַּף בַּנָּשִׁים the children among the women, female children Numbers 31:18 (P); as conceiving Exodus 2:2; Leviticus 12:2; 2 Samuel 11:5 +; travailing Jeremiah 13:21; bearing children Judges 13:24; 1 Kings 3:18; compare Job 14:1; Job 15:14; Job 25:4 +, etc.; suckling Isaiah 49:15; אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים Genesis 18:11; דֶּרֶח נָשִׁים Genesis 31:35; with adjective, or app., מֵינֶקֶת׳א nursing woman, nurse Exodus 2:7; זוֺנָה ׳א harlot Joshua 2:1; Joshua 6:22; Judges 11:1; Judges 16:1; 1 Kings 3:16; Proverbs 6:26; Jeremiah 3:3; Ezekiel 16:30; Ezekiel 23:44; so זָרָה ׳א Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 7:5; compare also Ezekiel 23:44 above; מְנָאָ֑פֶת ׳א adulteress Proverbs 30:20 (compare אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ Proverbs 6:26), אֵשֶׁת זְנוּנִים Hosea 1:2; נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֺת foreign women 1 Kings 11:1,8; Ezra 10:2,10,11,14,17,18,44; Nehemiah 13:26,27 (compare Nehemiah 13:23); חֲכָמָה ׳א wise woman, one known as clever, shrewd 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Samuel 20:16, etc.; also מִּילֶגֶשׁ ׳א concubine Judges 19:1,27: אַלְמָנָה ׳א widow 2 Samuel 14:5; 1 Kings 11:26; 1 Kings 17:9,10; נְבִיאָה ׳א prophetess Judges 4:4; also construct before noun of quality אֵשֶׁת רָ֑ע Proverbs 6:24; בְּסִילוּת ׳א Proverbs 9:13; חֵן ׳א Proverbs 11:16; חַיִל ׳א Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 31:10; Ruth 3:11; מִדְיָנִים ׳א Proverbs 21:9; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 27:15; וָכָ֑עַס ׳מ ׳א Proverbs 21:19. 2 Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually construct or suffix) Genesis 2:24,25; Genesis 3:8,17; Genesis 4:1,17 + often; of one betrothed (ארשׂ) Deuteronomy 20:7; Deuteronomy 28:30; בַּעַל (הָ)אִשָּׁה Exodus 21:3,22; אִישׁ הָאִשָּׁה Judges 20:4; לְאִשָּׁה to wife Genesis 2:22; Genesis 12:19; Genesis 16:3; Genesis 34:21 + often (after לָקַח, נָתַן husband or father subject); for wife (after הָֽיְתָה, woman subject) Genesis 20:12; Numbers 36:3,6 (twice in verse); Numbers 36:11,12; Deuteronomy 22:19,29 +; for unfaithful wife compare 1; construct in phrase אֵשֶׁת חֵיקֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 13:7; compare Deuteronomy 28:54; נְעוּרֶיךָ ׳א Proverbs 5:18; Malachi 2:14,15; בְּרִיתֶ֑ךָ ׳א Malachi 2:14; אֵשֶׁת אָב = step-mother Leviticus 18:8,11; Leviticus 20:11. 3 Female of animals Genesis 7:2 (twice in verse); see also below 4 4 With distributive & reciprocal sense, מֵאֵת ׳א רְעוּתָהּ each woman from her neighbour Exodus 11:2 (E); compare Ruth 1:8,9; Jeremiah 9:19; each one, of birds of prey Isaiah 34:15 compare Isaiah 34:16 (strike out Bi Che); of cows (figurative of heartless women of Israel) Amos 4:3; of sheep (figurative of Israel) Zechariah 11:9; & of inanimate things (P, & late) אֶל אֲחֹתָהּ ׳א Exodus 26:3 (twice in verse); Exodus 26:5,6,17 (P) Ezekiel 1:9 (strike out Co) Ezekiel 1:23; Ezekiel 3:13. אנת (the root of the pronoun 2 person in Shemitic: II. אנשׁ (√ of following; Biblical Hebrew III. אנשׁ, אִשָּׁח). Topical Lexicon 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 The first appearance of אִשָּׁה frames the dignity and purpose of woman in God’s created order. “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18). Formed from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:22), the woman is received with joyful recognition: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The one-flesh union instituted in Genesis 2:24 sets the pattern for every subsequent use of the term as wife and underscores complementarity, equality of essence, and distinction of roles. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 Roughly half of the 781 occurrences translate as “wife,” highlighting the covenantal bond at the heart of Israel’s social life. The Decalogue protects this bond (“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” — Exodus 20:17). Mosaic legislation guards marital faithfulness (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), regulates vows (Numbers 30), and punishes adultery (Leviticus 20:10). The relational ideal remains monogamous, faithful partnership that mirrors God’s covenant with His people, a theme later expanded by the prophets. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝗪𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 Key female figures are consistently introduced with אִשָּׁה, emphasizing their indispensable place in redemption history: Through these women God advances His saving purposes, demonstrating the honor He places on the role of אִשָּׁה within His plans. 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 In civil and cultic law the term identifies social standing and responsibility. It defines inheritance lines (Numbers 27), regulates sexual holiness (Leviticus 18), and features in the “jealousy offering” procedure (Numbers 5:12-31). Vows made by a wife could be confirmed or annulled by her husband (Numbers 30:6-15), reflecting headship while protecting the woman from rash self-obligation. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 The prophets employ אִשָּׁה metaphorically to depict Israel’s covenant relationship with the LORD. “For your husband is your Maker” (Isaiah 54:5). Unfaithfulness is portrayed as spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 3:6-20; Ezekiel 16; Hosea 1-3). Yet God promises restoration: “I will betroth you to Me forever… in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD” (Hosea 2:19-20). The image of a redeemed wife anticipates the New Covenant picture of the Bride of Christ. 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 Proverbs contrasts the “wife of noble character” with the “adulterous woman.” “A wife of noble character who can find? She is far more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). By contrast, the seductive woman leads to Sheol (Proverbs 2:16-19). Song of Songs elevates marital love with repeated use of אִשָּׁה for “bride” (Song of Songs 4:8-10), celebrating physical intimacy within covenant fidelity. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 Each narrative underscores the moral agency and theological significance that Scripture assigns to women. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Occurrences: approximately 781. Pentateuch: ~330; Historical Books: ~280; Wisdom/Poetic: ~80; Prophets: ~90. About 55 % render as “wife,” 40 % as “woman,” the remainder in compound or idiomatic phrases (“female,” “harlot-woman,” etc.). The breadth of distribution reveals the centrality of the concept across genres and eras. 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 In sum, אִשָּׁה weaves through Scripture to reveal God’s design for marriage, the honored place of women in His redemptive story, and a profound metaphor for His covenantal love. Forms and Transliterations אִ֭שָּׁה אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ אִשְׁתְּךָ֖ אִשְׁתְּךָ֗ אִשְׁתְּךָ֙ אִשְׁתְּךָ֜ אִשְׁתְּךָ֞ אִשְׁתִּ֑י אִשְׁתִּ֔י אִשְׁתִּ֖י אִשְׁתִּֽי׃ אִשְׁתִּי֙ אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ אִשְׁתֶּךָ֒ אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֤וֹ אִשְׁתּ֥וֹ אִשְׁתּ֨וֹ אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ אִשְׁתּוֹ֩ אִשְׁתּוֹ֮ אִשָּֽׁה־ אִשָּֽׁה׃ אִשָּׁ֑ה אִשָּׁ֔ה אִשָּׁ֖ה אִשָּׁ֗ה אִשָּׁ֛ה אִשָּׁ֜ה אִשָּׁ֞ה אִשָּׁ֡ה אִשָּׁ֣ה אִשָּׁ֤ה אִשָּׁ֥ה אִשָּׁ֨ה אִשָּׁה֒ אִשָּׁה֙ אִשָּׁה֩ אִשֹּׁ֖ת אֵ֖שֶׁת אֵ֙שֶׁת֙ אֵ֝֗שֶׁת אֵ֣שֶׁת אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ אֵ֤שֶׁת אֵ֥שֶׁת אֵ֨שֶׁת אֵֽשֶׁת־ אֵשֶׁת֩ אֶשְׁתְּךָ֤ ׀ אשה אשה־ אשה׃ אשת אשת־ אשתו אשתו׃ אשתי אשתי׃ אשתך בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ בְּאִשָּׁ֔ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים בַּנָּשִׁ֔ים באשה באשתו בנשים הַ֠נָּשִׁים הַ֨נָּשִׁ֔ים הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ הַנָּשִׁ֑ים הַנָּשִׁ֔ים הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנָּשִׁ֗ים הַנָּשִׁ֛ים הַנָּשִׁ֜ים הַנָּשִׁ֣ים הַנָּשִׁ֤ים הַנָּשִׁ֥ים הַנָּשִׁים֙ הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֛ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֜ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֧ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֨ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ הָֽאִשָּׁה֮ הָאִשָּׁ֑ה הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הָאִשָּׁ֗ה הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הָאִשָּׁ֣ה הָאִשָּׁ֤ה הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הָאִשָּׁ֨ה הָאִשָּׁה֩ הָאִשָּׁה֮ האשה הנשים הנשים׃ וְ֝אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֛ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וְאִשְׁתּ֣וֹ וְאִשְׁתּ֥וֹ וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ֙ וְאִשָּֽׁה׃ וְאִשָּׁ֑ה וְאִשָּׁ֔ה וְאִשָּׁ֕ה וְאִשָּׁ֗ה וְאִשָּׁ֛ה וְאִשָּׁ֜ה וְאִשָּׁ֡ה וְאִשָּׁ֣ה וְאִשָּׁ֥ה וְאִשָּׁה֙ וְאֵ֣שֶׁת וְאֵ֤שֶׁת וְאֵ֥שֶׁת וְאֵ֧שֶׁת וְהַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֗ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֣ים וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה וְהָאִשָּׁ֑ה וְהָאִשָּׁ֣ה וְהָאִשָּׁ֤ה וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וְלָאִשָּׁ֤ה וְנָשִׁ֑ים וְנָשִׁ֖ים וְנָשִׁ֜ים וְנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וְנָשֵׁ֛ינוּ וְנָשֶׁ֥יךָ וְנָשֶׁ֧יךָ וְנָשָׁ֑יו וּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וּבְאִשָּׁ֖ה וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת וּבְאֵ֥שֶׁת וּבְנָשֶׁ֖יךָ וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ וּלְאִשָּׁ֖ה וּנְשֵֽׁי־ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּנְשֵׁיכֶ֜ם ואשה ואשה׃ ואשת ואשתו ואשתו׃ ואשתך ובאשה ובאשת ובאשתו ובנשיך והאשה והנשים ולאשה ולאשתו ולנשיכם ונשי־ ונשיהם ונשיו ונשיך ונשיכם ונשים ונשינו כְּאִשָּׁ֗ה כְאִשָּׁ֧ה כַּנָּשִֽׁים׃ כַּנָּשִׁ֑ים כַנָּשִׁ֛ים כאשה כנשים כנשים׃ לְאִישָׁ֑הּ לְאִשְׁתִּ֑י לְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ לְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה לְאִשָּׁ֔ה לְאִשָּׁ֖ה לְאִשָּׁ֗ה לְאֵֽשֶׁת־ לְנָשִֽׁים׃ לְנָשִׁ֑ים לְנָשִׁ֔ים לְנָשִׁים֒ לְנָשַׁ֤י לְנָשָׁ֗יו לַנָּשִׁ֔ים לַנָּשִׁ֣ים לָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָאִשָּׁ֑ה לָאִשָּׁ֖ה לאישה לאשה לאשה׃ לאשת־ לאשתו לאשתי לנשי לנשיו לנשים לנשים׃ מִנְּשֵׁ֖י מִנְּשֵׁ֣י מִנָּשִׁ֔ים מִנָּשִׁ֖ים מִנָּשִׁ֥ים מֵאִשָּֽׁה׃ מֵאִשָּׁ֣ה מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת מֵאֵ֣שֶׁת מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מאשה מאשה׃ מאשת מנשי מנשים נְשֵֽׁי־ נְשֵׁ֣י נְשֵׁ֤י נְשֵׁ֥י נְשֵׁ֨י נְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֜ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֤ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם נְשֵׁיהֶם֙ נְשֵׁיכֶ֑ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֖ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֣ם נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ נָ֠שָׁיו נָ֭שִׁים נָשִֽׁים׃ נָשִׁ֑ים נָשִׁ֔ים נָשִׁ֕ים נָשִׁ֖ים נָשִׁ֗ים נָשִׁ֛ים נָשִׁ֜ים נָשִׁ֣ים נָשִׁ֣ים ׀ נָשִׁ֤ים נָשִׁ֥ים נָשִׁ֧ים נָשִׁים֙ נָשֵׁ֔ינוּ נָשֵׁ֥ינוּ נָשֶׁ֔יךָ נָשֶׁ֙יךָ֙ נָשֶׁ֣יךָ נָשַׁ֣י נָשָֽׁיו׃ נָשָׁ֑יו נָשָׁ֔יו נָשָׁ֖יו נָשָׁיו֙ נשי נשי־ נשיהם נשיו נשיו׃ נשיך נשיכם נשים נשים׃ נשינו ’ê·šeṯ ’ê·šeṯ- ’eš·tə·ḵā ’êšeṯ ’êšeṯ- ’eštəḵā ’iš·šāh ’iš·šāh- ’iš·šōṯ ’iš·te·ḵā ’iš·tə·ḵā ’iš·tî ’iš·tōw ’iššāh ’iššāh- ’iššōṯ ’išteḵā ’ištəḵā ’ištî ’ištōw ban·nā·šîm bannaShim bannāšîm bə’iššāh bə’ištōw bə·’iš·šāh bə·’iš·tōw beishShah beishTo channaShim cheishShah eshet eshteCha hā’iššāh hā·’iš·šāh haishShah han·nā·šîm hannaShim hannāšîm ishShah ishShot ishteCha ishTi ishTo kan·nā·šîm ḵan·nā·šîm kannaShim kannāšîm ḵannāšîm kə’iššāh ḵə’iššāh kə·’iš·šāh ḵə·’iš·šāh keishShah lā’iššāh lā·’iš·šāh laishShah lan·nā·šîm lannaShim lannāšîm lə’êšeṯ- lə’îšāh lə’iššāh lə’ištî lə’ištōw lə·’ê·šeṯ- lə·’î·šāh lə·’iš·šāh lə·’iš·tî lə·’iš·tōw lə·nā·šāw lə·nā·šay lə·nā·šîm leeshet leiShah leishShah leishTi leishTo lənāšāw lənāšay lenaShai lenaShav lenaShim lənāšîm mê’êšeṯ mê’iššāh mê·’ê·šeṯ mê·’iš·šāh meEshet meishShah min·nā·šîm min·nə·šê minnaShim minnāšîm minnəšê minneShei nā·šāw nā·šay nā·še·ḵā nā·šê·nū nā·šîm nāšāw nāšay nāšeḵā nāšênū naShai naShav naSheicha naSheinu naShim nāšîm nə·šê nə·šê- nə·šê·hem nə·šê·ḵem nəšê nəšê- nəšêhem nəšêḵem neShei nesheiChem nesheiHem ū·ḇə·’ê·šeṯ ū·ḇə·’iš·šāh ū·ḇə·’iš·tōw ū·ḇə·nā·še·ḵā ū·lə·’iš·šāh ū·lə·’iš·tōw ū·nə·šê- ū·nə·šê·hem ū·nə·šê·ḵem ūḇə’êšeṯ ūḇə’iššāh ūḇə’ištōw ūḇənāšeḵā ūlə’iššāh ūlə’ištōw uleishShah ulishTo ūnəšê- ūnəšêhem ūnəšêḵem uneshei unesheiChem unesheiHem uveEshet uveishShah uveishTo uvenaSheicha veEshet vehaishShah vehannaShim veishShah veishteCha veishTo velaishShah velinsheiChem venaShav venaSheicha venaSheinu venaShim wə’êšeṯ wə’iššāh wə’ištəḵā wə’ištōw wə·’ê·šeṯ wə·’iš·šāh wə·’iš·tə·ḵā wə·’iš·tōw wə·hā·’iš·šāh wə·han·nā·šîm wə·lā·’iš·šāh wə·lin·šê·ḵem wə·nā·šāw wə·nā·še·ḵā wə·nā·šê·nū wə·nā·šîm wəhā’iššāh wəhannāšîm wəlā’iššāh wəlinšêḵem wənāšāw wənāšeḵā wənāšênū wənāšîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:22 HEB: מִן־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־ NAS: fashioned into a woman the rib KJV: made he a woman, and brought INT: from the man A woman and brought to Genesis 2:23 Genesis 2:24 Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:1 Genesis 3:2 Genesis 3:4 Genesis 3:6 Genesis 3:8 Genesis 3:12 Genesis 3:13 Genesis 3:13 Genesis 3:15 Genesis 3:16 Genesis 3:17 Genesis 3:20 Genesis 3:21 Genesis 4:1 Genesis 4:17 Genesis 4:19 Genesis 4:23 Genesis 4:23 Genesis 4:25 Genesis 6:2 Genesis 6:18 781 Occurrences |