מִשְׁרָעִי
a Mishraite, or inhabitant (collectively) of Mishra
Definition
The term מִשְׁרָעִי (Mishrâʻîy) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Mishraite,' referring to an inhabitant or descendant of a place called Mishra. It functions as a collective noun, denoting the people group associated with this location. The word appears only in 1 Chronicles 2:53, where the Mishraites are listed among the clans of Kiriath-jearim, indicating they were a recognized sub-group within the tribe of Judah. As the place 'Mishra' is otherwise unknown and the term is used only once, its meaning is confined to this specific ethnic or geographic identifier.
Biblical Usage
This word is used a single time in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:53. It appears in a genealogical list detailing the descendants of Caleb and the clans of Kiriath-jearim. The usage is purely descriptive and ethnogeographic, serving to identify one of the family groups within the tribal structure of Judah. There are no other contexts or patterns of usage.
Etymology
The word is a patrial noun (a name for an inhabitant) derived from an unused place name, 'Mishra.' This place name itself likely comes from an unused Hebrew root שׁרע (šrʿ), which probably meant 'to stretch out' or 'extend.' Thus, the name may have originally described a geographical feature like a plain or an extended settlement. The gentilic ending ־ִי (-î) is added to form 'inhabitant of Mishra.'
Semantic Range
In its original setting, this term identified a specific clan or family group within the complex social and tribal landscape of ancient Judah. Genealogies like the one in 1 Chronicles were crucial for establishing identity, land rights, and social standing. While the specific history of the Mishraites is lost, their inclusion in the official record signifies they were a recognized part of the community. This differs from a modern understanding where such minor clan names hold no contemporary significance.
יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a general term for a member of the tribe or kingdom of Judah, whereas מִשְׁרָעִי specifies a sub-group within it.
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.
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