יִשְׁמְרַי
Jishmerai, an Israelite
Definition
Yishmᵉray (Jishmerai) is a proper name belonging to an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, recorded in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles 8:18. The name is a derivative of the Hebrew root שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning 'to keep, guard, or preserve,' and thus carries the sense of 'Yahweh preserves' or 'preservative.' As a personal name, it functions solely to identify this specific individual within the lineage of Benjamin. There are no other major senses or meanings, as it appears only this once in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This name is used only once in the Old Testament, in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 8:18. It appears in a list detailing the descendants of Benjamin who lived in Jerusalem. The context is purely genealogical, serving to establish lineage and tribal identity within the post-exilic community's historical records.
Etymology
The name Yishmᵉray is derived from the Hebrew root שָׁמַר (shamar, H8104), meaning 'to keep, guard, observe, or preserve.' It follows a common pattern for Hebrew personal names, often incorporating a form of the divine name (Yah) and a verb, though the theophoric element is not explicitly visible in this form. The name essentially means 'may He (God) preserve' or 'preservative,' reflecting a hope or statement of divine protection.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not central to major doctrines, its etymological root (shamar) is profoundly significant. Shamar is a key verb describing God's faithful protection of His people (e.g., Psalm 121:7-8) and humanity's responsibility to keep God's commandments (e.g., Genesis 2:15). Thus, encountering this name can remind the reader of the biblical theme of God as the ultimate keeper and guardian of His covenant people, a concept embedded even in the names of lesser-known individuals.
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names were often meaningful statements or prayers. A name like Yishmᵉray, meaning 'He preserves,' likely expressed the parents' hope for divine protection over their child's life. Its inclusion in the Chronicler's genealogy (1 Chronicles 8) served to affirm the continuity and identity of the tribe of Benjamin after the exile, connecting the present community to its ancestral roots.
As a proper name, direct synonyms are not applicable. However, it shares its root with: shamar (שָׁמַר, H8104) — the common verb meaning 'to keep, guard, observe,' from which the name's meaning is derived.
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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