מֵישָׁא
Mesha, a place in Arabia; also an Israelite
Definition
The Hebrew proper noun מֵישָׁא (Mêyshâʼ) refers to a personal name, specifically an individual named Mesha. In its single biblical occurrence, it identifies a Benjaminite, the son of Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:9. The name is derived from a root meaning 'departure' or 'deliverance,' possibly signifying a hope or event related to being drawn out. While another, more prominent figure named Mesha (the king of Moab) exists in the Bible (2 Kings 3:4), this is a different individual with the same name, highlighting that מֵישָׁא was a known personal name in the ancient Semitic world.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 8:9. It functions strictly as a personal name within a genealogical list tracing the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin. The context is purely historical and familial, listing Mesha as one of several sons born in the land of Moab.
Etymology
The name מֵישָׁא (Mêyshâʼ) is derived from the Hebrew root מוּשׁ (mûsh, H4185), which means 'to depart,' 'to remove,' or 'to draw out.' It is related to the verb for Moses's name (מֹשֶׁה, Mōsheh), which carries a similar sense of being drawn out of water (Exodus 2:10). As a proper noun, it likely functioned as a theophoric or symbolic name, perhaps expressing a hope for deliverance or a significant departure.
Semantic Range
As a personal name used only in a genealogical list, מֵישָׁא has minimal direct theological significance. Its primary value is historical, contributing to the meticulous biblical record of Israel's tribal lineages, which underscores God's faithfulness to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs. Understanding its etymology connects it to the theme of 'departure' or 'deliverance,' a recurring motif in Israel's history.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning related to circumstances of birth, character traits, or divine attributes. Mesha, meaning 'departure,' may have been given to commemorate a significant event, such as a family's move or a hoped-for deliverance. The inclusion of this name in a Benjaminite genealogy that mentions births occurring in Moab (1 Chronicles 8:8) reflects the complex social and geographical interactions of the tribes.
מֹשֶׁה (Mōsheh, H4872) — The name Moses, sharing the same root (מוּשׁ) and core meaning of being 'drawn out,' but referring to the central liberator and lawgiver of Israel.
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 →