Original Word: יִשְׁוָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yishvah
Pronunciation: YISH-vah
Phonetic Spelling: (yish-vaw')
KJV: Ishvah, Isvah
NASB: Ishvah
Word Origin: [from H7737 (שָׁוָה - To level)]

1. he will level
2. Jishvah, an Israelite

Jishvah, an Israelite

From shavah; he will level; Jishvah, an Israelite:

see HEBREW shavah

Word Origin
from shavah
Definition
an Asherite
NASB Translation
Ishvah (2).

יִשְׁוָה proper name, masculine in Asher, Genesis 46:17 = 1 Chronicles 7:30; Ιεσσαι, Ισουα, Ιεσους, etc.

Name and Family Context

יִשְׁוָה (Yishwah, also rendered “Ishuah,” “Ishvah,” or “Jesui” in various English traditions) is listed as one of the sons of Asher, the eighth son of Jacob and Zilpah. Together with his brothers Imnah, Ishvi, and Beriah—and their sister Serah—Yishwah forms part of the clan heads through whom the tribe of Asher took shape during Israel’s formative years (Genesis 46:17).

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Genesis 46:17 – “The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and their sister Serah”.
2. 1 Chronicles 7:30 – “The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister.”

These two texts, written centuries apart, attest to the permanence of Yishwah’s place within Israel’s sacred records.

Place within the Genealogies of Israel

Both Moses (Genesis) and the Chronicler preserve an identical order for Asher’s sons. While some tribes show additions or omissions in later genealogies, Asher’s line remains unchanged, suggesting that these particular family heads retained clear identity through the wilderness period and well into the monarchical era. Yishwah’s inclusion bolsters confidence in the reliability and preservation of Scripture’s genealogical traditions (compare Numbers 26:44–47).

Historical and Tribal Significance

1. Military Role. When Israel was numbered in the plains of Moab, the tribe of Asher fielded 53,400 fighting men (Numbers 26:47). Though Yishwah’s individual descendants are not singled out, his lineage contributed to this sizable contingent that would secure Israel’s inheritance in Canaan.
2. Territorial Allotment. Joshua allotted Asher a fertile coastal stretch from Carmel to Sidon (Joshua 19:24–31). Later references show Asherite towns supplying provisions to King David (2 Samuel 17:28–29), reflecting economic vigor undoubtedly sustained by clans descending from Asher’s sons, Yishwah included.
3. Covenant Continuity. The Chronicler writes hundreds of years after the conquest, yet still names Yishwah. In assigning temple worshipers, gatekeepers, and soldiers (1 Chronicles 9–12), the Chronicler demonstrates that tribal memories persisted into the Second Temple period, encouraging post-exilic readers to see themselves as heirs of an unbroken covenant line.

Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Application

1. God Values Every Name. Though Scripture records no personal exploits for Yishwah, the Holy Spirit deemed his name worthy of eternal remembrance. Under the New Covenant, believers similarly find their names written “in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
2. Faithfulness in the Ordinary. Yishwah’s primary legacy is simply belonging faithfully among God’s people. Ministry today often flourishes through unsung servants whose steady presence upholds the larger mission (1 Corinthians 12:18–22).
3. Generational Impact. From a single tribal father, multitudes arose who defended Israel, tilled its land, and worshiped at its sanctuary. Parents and mentors today sow seeds whose influence will reach far beyond their lifetime (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
4. Assurance of God’s Promises. Repetition of Yishwah’s name from Genesis to Chronicles testifies that divine promises to the patriarchs endure despite exile, failure, and centuries of change (Romans 11:29). Believers may anchor their hope in the same covenant-keeping God.

In sum, Yishwah stands as a quiet witness to the meticulous faithfulness of God, the dignity of every member within His covenant community, and the enduring relevance of Israel’s genealogies for grounding identity, heritage, and hope in redemptive history.

וְיִשְׁוָ֛ה וישוה veyishVah wə·yiš·wāh wəyišwāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts