Bible Word Study
יִצְהָרִי
Yitshârîy · a Jitsharite or descendant of Jitshar
יִצְהָרִי
a Jitsharite or descendant of Jitshar
Definition
Yitshârîy refers to a member of the Izharite clan, a family within the tribe of Levi descended from Izhar (also spelled Izehar or Jitshar), the son of Kohath (Exodus 6:18). This term specifically identifies the priestly lineage responsible for certain duties in the tabernacle and later temple worship. In Numbers 3:27, the Izharites are listed among the Kohathite clans, while in 1 Chronicles, the term is used to denote specific family lines within the broader Levitical service, including gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 26:23) and officials for duties outside the temple (1 Chronicles 26:29).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the context of Levitical genealogies and temple service assignments. It appears four times: once in the Pentateuch (Numbers 3:27) detailing the Kohathite clans, and three times in 1 Chronicles (24:22; 26:23; 26:29) within post-exilic records that organize the priestly divisions and duties for the restored temple. The usage consistently serves administrative and hereditary purposes, identifying sub-groupings within the tribe of Levi.
Etymology
Derived patronymically from the proper name יִצְהָר (Yitshâr, H3324), meaning 'oil' or 'shining oil,' which was the name of Izhar, son of Kohath. The suffix -ִי (-iy) indicates 'belonging to' or 'descendant of,' thus forming 'of Izhar' or 'Izharite.' The root name may relate to anointing or oil, a substance significant in priestly consecration.
Semantic Range
The Izharites highlight the meticulous organization God instituted for worship, emphasizing that service in His sanctuary was ordered by lineage and divine appointment (1 Chronicles 24:1). Their role within the Kohathites, who carried the holy objects (Numbers 4:15), underscores the importance of sacred duties being performed by specific, set-apart families. Understanding this term enriches reading by revealing the continuity and structure of Israel's worship system, pointing to God's desire for holiness in approach. In ancient Israel, tribal and clan identities were foundational to social and religious life. Being an Izharite meant belonging to a recognized priestly lineage with hereditary rights and responsibilities in the temple. This system ensured the preservation of ritual knowledge and maintained order in communal worship, differing from modern individualistic approaches to religious service. Kohathite (Qehathîy, H6956) — a broader clan within Levi, including the Izharites; Gershonite (Gershûnîy, H1649) — another Levitical clan with different service duties; Merarite (Merârîy, H4847) — a third Levitical clan responsible for the tabernacle's framework.
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]