Original Word: יִשְׁמָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yishma'
Pronunciation: yish-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yish-maw')
KJV: Ishma
NASB: Ishma
Word Origin: [from H3456 (יָשַׁם - appalled)]

1. desolate
2. Jishma, an Israelite

desolate; Jishma, an Israelite

From yasham; desolate; Jishma, an Israelite:

see HEBREW yasham

Word Origin
from yasham
Definition
"desolate," a man of Judah
NASB Translation
Ishma (1).

יִשְׁמָא proper name, masculine a name in Judah 1 Chronicles 4:3; ᵐ5 Ραγμα, A Ιεσμα ᵐ5^L Σαμαα.

יִשְׁמָעֵאל, יִשְׁמַעְיָה(וּׅ see שׁמע

יִשְׁמְרַי see שׁמר

Name and Meaning

Formed from the Hebrew verb “to hear,” the name יִשְׁמָא (Yishma) conveys the idea “He hears” or “Hearing.” In the biblical setting, such theophoric names quietly attest that the God of Israel both listens and responds, an assertion made explicit elsewhere in Scripture (Psalm 34:17; 1 Peter 3:12).

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 4:3 lists Yishma among “the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and their sister was named Hazzelelponi”. This genealogy appears within the larger register of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:1-23).

Historical Context within the Tribe of Judah

The Chronicler’s audience, returning from exile, needed reassurance of unbroken covenant identity. By preserving minor family names such as Yishma, the inspired record connects post-exilic Judah back to the patriarchal promises. Etam’s family resided near Bethlehem (compare 1 Chronicles 4:4 with 2 Chronicles 11:6), situating Yishma in the same regional sphere later associated with King David and ultimately with the birth of Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).

Theological Themes

1. Divine Attention: The very name “He hears” reinforces a core biblical truth—God attends to the cries of His people (Exodus 2:24; Psalm 18:6).
2. Covenant Continuity: Seemingly obscure names show that God’s covenant is comprehensive; every clan, village, and individual is remembered (Isaiah 49:16).
3. Faithfulness in Obscurity: Though Yishma performs no recorded exploits, his inclusion demonstrates that significance in God’s plan is not measured by public renown but by belonging to His people (1 Corinthians 12:22).

Connections to the Messianic Line

While Yishma himself is not in the direct Messianic lineage, he shares Judahite heritage with David (Ruth 4:18-22) and Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16). Each Judahite household foreshadows the greater Son of Judah, underscoring the meticulous preservation of genealogical detail leading to the promised Messiah.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Validation of Every Member: Pastors and teachers can affirm that every believer, named or unnamed, holds a valued place in the household of faith (Ephesians 2:19).
• Encouragement in Prayer: The name invites congregations to trust that God truly hears, motivating persistent intercession (Luke 18:1-8).
• Teaching Genealogies: Rather than skipped passages, lists like 1 Chronicles 4 can be preached as testimonies to God’s faithfulness across generations, strengthening confidence in the reliability of Scripture.

Related Names and Concepts

Ishmael (Genesis 16:11), Shammah (2 Samuel 17:25), and other derivatives of the root “hear” echo the same assurance of divine attentiveness. Together they weave a thematic thread from Genesis to Revelation, culminating in the heavenly declaration, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3)—the ultimate confirmation that God listens and answers.

וְיִשְׁמָ֖א וישמא veyishMa wə·yiš·mā wəyišmāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts