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Issachar

Both TestamentsPatriarchsMaleSon

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and fifth by Leah, and he became the forefather of the Israelite tribe of Issachar.

Issachar illustration
Issachar

Biography

Issachar was the ninth son born to Jacob and his fifth by his wife Leah. His birth is recounted in Genesis 30:17–18, where Leah names him Issachar, meaning "reward" or "he brings wages", attributing his conception to God's response to her continued devotion. He descended with his father's household into Egypt (Genesis 46:13), and his four sons, Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron, became the ancestral heads of the Issacharian clans enumerated in Numbers 26:23–25. Jacob's deathbed blessing characterizes Issachar as a "strong donkey, crouching between the saddlebags" (Genesis 49:14), suggesting a people of endurance and agricultural industry who accepted the burden of labor in exchange for a pleasant land.

Significance

Issachar's tribal legacy extended throughout Israel's history. The tribe received a fertile allotment in the Jezreel Valley upon the conquest of Canaan, a region renowned for its agricultural richness. In later tradition, the men of Issachar were celebrated for their wisdom and discernment, 1 Chronicles 12:32 describes them as men who "understood the times and knew what Israel should do." This portrait of patient wisdom, rooted in a willingness to bear burdens and read situations carefully, gave the tribe of Issachar an enduring reputation as counselors in Israel. Their story teaches that faithfulness and perseverance can yield both temporal blessing and enduring spiritual influence.

Authority Records
FatherJacobMotherLeahSpouseEridahChildTolaChildJashubChildPuahChildShimronSiblingDinahSiblingJosephSiblingLeviSiblingJudahSiblingBenjaminSiblingDanSiblingZebulunSiblingReubenSiblingGadSiblingNaphtaliSiblingSimeonSiblingAsher

Verse Appearances (40)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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