אִשָּׁה
a woman
Definition
The Hebrew noun אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh) primarily means 'woman' or 'wife.' It denotes an adult female human, often in relation to a man, as seen in its foundational use for Eve, who was created from the man (אִישׁ, ʼîsh) and called 'woman' because she was taken out of man (Genesis 2:22-23). In many contexts, it specifically means 'wife,' defining a woman in her marital relationship (e.g., Genesis 2:24, 'his wife'). The word can also function more broadly, sometimes representing 'female' in a general sense or appearing in legal and narrative texts to refer to women collectively.
Biblical Usage
אִשָּׁה is used throughout the Old Testament, appearing 686 times. It is most frequent in narrative books like Genesis, where it establishes the foundational concepts of womanhood and marriage (Genesis 2-3). It commonly denotes a wife in legal, prophetic, and wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs 31). The plural form (נָשִׁים, nāshîm) often refers to 'women' as a group. The specific sense is determined by context: in Genesis 3:1-6, it refers to 'the woman' Eve; in Exodus 20:17, it is part of the commandment not to covet a neighbor's wife.
Etymology
The word אִשָּׁה is the feminine form of the noun אִישׁ (ʼîsh, H376), meaning 'man' or 'husband.' This pairing highlights the relational complementarity built into the language. It is also linked etymologically to אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôsh, H582), a more general term for 'humanity' or 'mankind,' suggesting a shared human essence. The irregular plural (נָשִׁים) is a common feature of this word.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is foundational to the biblical understanding of gender, marriage, and human relationships. Its first use in Genesis 2:22-25 establishes woman as created in God's image, equal in dignity yet distinct from man, and integral to the covenant of marriage ('one flesh'). Understanding אִשָּׁה enriches reading by highlighting the complementary design in creation and the sacredness of the marital bond, which later Scripture uses as a metaphor for God's relationship with His people (e.g., Hosea, Ephesians 5).
In its ancient Near Eastern setting, אִשָּׁה identified a woman primarily within familial and social structures, most notably as a wife, which was central to her identity and economic security. While the term itself means 'woman,' its default application in narratives and laws often assumes the context of marriage or potential marriage, reflecting the patriarchal structure of the society. This differs from some modern understandings that prioritize individual identity over relational roles.
נְקֵבָה (neqēbâh, H5347) — a biological term for 'female' of humans or animals. בַּת (bath, H1323) — 'daughter' or young woman. כַּלָּה (kallâh, H3618) — 'bride' or 'daughter-in-law,' emphasizing a new marital status.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →