יָשֵׁן
Jashen, an Israelite
Definition
The proper noun יָשֵׁן (Yâshên) refers to an individual named Jashen, an Israelite warrior listed among King David's mighty men in 2 Samuel 23:32. The name appears only in this single biblical occurrence. It is derived from the Hebrew root ישׁן (yāšēn), meaning 'to sleep' or 'to be old,' suggesting the name could carry connotations of 'sleepy,' 'aged,' or perhaps metaphorically 'tranquil.' As a personal name, its specific meaning for the bearer is not elaborated upon in the text, and its significance is tied entirely to its role in identifying this member of David's elite military force.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 23:32, within the list of David's 'mighty men' (גִּבֹּרִים, gibborim). The verse states: '...Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan...' (ESV). The context is purely genealogical and military, serving to honor and record the names of David's most valiant warriors. No other usage or pattern exists in the biblical corpus.
Etymology
יָשֵׁן (Yâshên) is identical in form to the adjective יָשֵׁן (yāšēn, H3463), meaning 'sleeping' or 'old.' It is derived from the common verbal root ישׁן (yšn), meaning 'to sleep.' As a proper name, it is therefore a substantivized use of this adjective, functioning as a personal name likely describing a characteristic (e.g., calmness, age) or given for other symbolic reasons common in Hebrew onomastics.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. Bearing a name derived from 'sleep' might not have been pejorative; it could have implied peace, rest, or maturity. As one of David's mighty men, Jashen's inclusion in this elite list indicates his recognized valor and loyalty, showing that even individuals with seemingly mundane or obscure names played crucial roles in God's establishment of David's kingdom, which held messianic significance.
ישׁן (yāšēn, H3463) — The adjective meaning 'sleeping' or 'old,' from which the proper name is directly derived. נוּם (nûm, H5123) — A verb meaning 'to slumber' or 'doze,' a more specific type of sleep. תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmâ, H8639) — A deep sleep or trance, often divinely induced (e.g., Genesis 2:21).
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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