Bible Word Study
רִצְיָא
Ritsyâʼ · Ritsjah, an Israelite
רִצְיָא
Ritsjah, an Israelite
Definition
Ritsyâʼ is a proper noun referring to an individual named Ritsjah, an Israelite from the tribe of Asher. The name appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:39, where he is listed as a son of Ulla among the descendants of Asher. As a personal name, it carries the meaning of 'delight' or 'pleasure,' derived from its root. There are no other biblical senses or applications of this specific term beyond this single genealogical reference.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in 1 Chronicles 7:39 within a genealogical list detailing the descendants of the tribe of Asher. The context is purely historical and familial, recording the lineage without narrative detail. No patterns of usage exist beyond this solitary occurrence, which is typical for many minor personal names in biblical genealogies.
Etymology
The name Ritsyâʼ (רִצְיָא) is derived from the Hebrew root רָצָה (ratsah, H7521), which means 'to be pleased with,' 'to accept favorably,' or 'to delight in.' It is a nominal form implying 'my delight' or 'pleasure of Yah,' possibly a theophoric element referencing God. The meaning directly connects to concepts of favor and acceptance.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaning or parental hopes. Ritsyâʼ, meaning 'delight,' likely expressed a sentiment of joy or divine favor associated with the child's birth. Such names embedded personal or theological significance into identity, reflecting values within the community, though no specific narrative about this individual survives. רָצוֹן (ratsôn, H7522) — a related noun meaning 'favor, goodwill, acceptance,' often used of divine pleasure. רָצָה (ratsah, H7521) — the verbal root meaning 'to be pleased with, to accept.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]