יִשְׂרְאֵלִית

יִשְׂרְאֵלִית

a Jisreelitess or female descendant of Jisrael

Definition

The Hebrew noun יִשְׂרְאֵלִית (Yisrᵉʼêlîyth) specifically means 'an Israelite woman' or 'a female descendant of Israel.' It is the feminine form of the more common יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisrᵉʼêlî), which refers to any Israelite, male or female. In its two biblical occurrences (Leviticus 24:10, 11), it identifies a woman of Israelite heritage, highlighting her ethnic and covenantal lineage. The term underscores that women were integral members of the covenant community, subject to its laws and identity.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in Leviticus 24:10-11. It appears in a legal narrative context where a man, whose mother is described as an יִשְׂרְאֵלִית (an Israelite woman) and whose father is an Egyptian, blasphemes the Name of God. The usage serves to establish the woman's national and religious identity within the Israelite community, which becomes a key factor in the subsequent legal proceedings and divine pronouncement regarding blasphemy.

Etymology

יִשְׂרְאֵלִית is the feminine singular form of the adjective/gentilic יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisrᵉʼêlî, H3481), meaning 'Israelite.' The base is the proper name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrāʼēl, H3478), meaning 'he strives with God' or 'God strives.' The suffix -ית (-îth) is a standard feminine ending. Thus, the word's formation directly links female individuals to the national and patriarchal identity of Israel.

Semantic Range

This term is theologically significant as it explicitly includes women within the formal designation of God's covenant people, 'Israel.' In the key passage (Leviticus 24:10-11), the woman's status as an יִשְׂרְאֵלִית places her son, despite his mixed parentage, within the sphere of Israel's law, leading to a foundational ruling on blasphemy. It reinforces that covenant identity and obligation were inherited through the Israelite mother as well as the father, emphasizing the corporate nature of the community bound to God's statutes. In its ancient Near Eastern context, identity and lineage were typically traced patrilineally. The specific identification of this woman as an Israelite highlights that within the covenant community, maternal lineage was also crucial for determining religious and ethnic status. This stands in contrast to some surrounding cultures and underscores the distinctiveness of Israel's identity as a people defined by covenant with Yahweh, not solely by paternal descent. יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisrᵉʼêlî, H3481) — The masculine or general form for an Israelite. עִבְרִיָּה (ʻIvrîyâh, H5683) — A Hebrew woman; a broader ethnic term sometimes used interchangeably but with different historical connotations.

Word Details