יַעֲרֶשְׁיָה
Jaareshjah, an Israelite
Definition
Yaʻăreshyâh (יַעֲרֶשְׁיָה) is a proper name belonging to an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:27. The name appears in a genealogical list detailing the descendants of Jeiel, the father of Gibeon. As a personal name, it identifies a specific individual within the lineage of Saul, Israel's first king. No other meanings or senses are attested for this word in the biblical text, as its sole function is to denote this particular person.
Biblical Usage
This name is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 8:27. It occurs within a detailed genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:1-40), specifically in the lineage leading to King Saul. The context is purely genealogical, serving to establish familial connections and heritage within the tribe.
Etymology
The name Yaʻăreshyâh is a compound. The first element (יַעֲרֶשׁ) is of uncertain origin and meaning, derived from an unused Hebrew root. The second element is the divine name יָהּ (Yah, H3050), a shortened form of Yahweh (the LORD). Thus, the name likely means something like "May Yah (the LORD) ..." or "Yah has ...", though the precise action or attribute from the first part remains unclear.
Semantic Range
While the individual is not a major biblical figure, the name itself is theologically significant as a theophoric name—a name that incorporates the name of God (Yah). This reflects the common Israelite practice of expressing faith and identity through names that acknowledge Yahweh. Its placement in the Benjaminite genealogy underscores God's faithfulness in preserving the lineages of His people, even those of lesser-known individuals, as part of His covenantal history.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and conveyed hopes, attributes, or acknowledgments of God. The inclusion of the divine element "Yah" in Yaʻăreshyâh identifies the bearer (or his parents) as worshippers of Yahweh. Genealogies like the one in 1 Chronicles 8 were crucial for establishing tribal identity, inheritance rights, and priestly or royal lineage, which modern readers may not prioritize in the same way.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. Other theophoric names ending in -yâh (יָהּ) from the same context include: Shephatyah (H8203) — 'Yah has judged' and Malchiyah (H4441) — 'Yah is king'.
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 →