יָשֻׁבִי
a Jashubite, or descendant of Jashub
Definition
Yâshubîy refers to a member of the Jashubite clan, a family group descended from Jashub, who was a son of Issachar (Numbers 26:24). In the biblical genealogical system, this term functions as a patronymic, identifying individuals by their ancestral lineage within the tribe of Issachar. The term appears only in the context of the second wilderness census recorded in Numbers 26, where it serves to enumerate the fighting men from this specific family. There are no other attested meanings or uses for this word in the Hebrew Bible.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Old Testament book of Numbers, specifically in the census list of Numbers 26:24. Its usage is purely genealogical and administrative, serving to count the 'clan of the Jashubites' as part of the tribe of Issachar. The context is the numbering of Israel's men of fighting age in the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. No patterns of broader usage exist, as it is a single-occurrence, technical term for a family subdivision.
Etymology
The word יָשֻׁבִי (Yâshubîy) is formed patronymically from the proper name יָשׁוּב (Yâshûb, H3437), which means 'he returns' or 'he turns back.' The suffix '-î' denotes belonging or descent, making the full meaning 'belonging to Jashub' or 'descendant of Jashub.' It follows a standard Hebrew pattern for creating family or clan names from a founding ancestor's name.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite society, identity was deeply tied to tribe, clan, and family. A term like 'Jashubite' located an individual within the social and military structure of the nation. Being counted in the census (Numbers 26:24) affirmed the clan's continued existence and its share in the tribal inheritance in the Promised Land. This reflects the importance of genealogy for inheritance rights, military organization, and communal identity.
יִשָּׂשכָרִי (Yissaskârîy, H3405) — A broader term for any member of the tribe of Issachar, whereas Yâshubîy specifies a sub-clan 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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