Original Word: יִשְׁוִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yishviy
Pronunciation: YISH-vee
Phonetic Spelling: (yish-vee')
KJV: Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, Jesui
NASB: Ishvi
Word Origin: [from H7737 (שָׁוָה - To level)]

1. level
2. Jishvi, the name of two Israelites

Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, Jesui

From shavah; level; Jishvi, the name of two Israelites -- Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, Jesui.

see HEBREW shavah

Word Origin
from shavah
Definition
two Isr.
NASB Translation
Ishvi (4).

I. יִשְׁוִי proper name, masculine 1. in Asher, Genesis 46:17 = 1 Chronicles 7:30; Numbers 26:44; Ιεουλ, Ιουλ, Ισουι, Ιεσου, etc.

2 a son of Saul 1 Samuel 14:49; Ιεσσιου(λ), but read אישׁבעל as 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:39 (see אִישׁכּֿשֶׁת p. 36:a), compare We Dr and others

Occurrences in Scripture

Ishvi appears four times in the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44; 1 Chronicles 7:30; and 1 Samuel 14:49. Two distinct individuals bear the name—one from the tribe of Asher and one from the royal household of King Saul.

Ishvi Son of Asher

1. Family placement
• Listed among the sons of Asher together with Imnah, Ishvah, and Beriah, “and their sister Serah” (Genesis 46:17).
• The family list is repeated when Israel is numbered on the plains of Moab: “The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah” (Numbers 26:44).
• The Chronicler confirms the same lineage centuries later (1 Chronicles 7:30).

2. Tribal and covenant role
• Asher was blessed by Jacob to “yield royal delicacies” (Genesis 49:20), and Moses later prophesied, “May he be favored by his brothers” (Deuteronomy 33:24). Ishvi’s inclusion signals another link in the chain that brought this prophetic blessing to fruition.
• The naming of an “Ishvite clan” indicates that Ishvi’s descendants became a recognized family sub-unit within Asher, helping to populate the northern tribal allotment along the Mediterranean coast.

3. Ministry insights
• God records ordinary family members in Scripture, underscoring that covenant faithfulness is transmitted through households.
• The repetition of Ishvi’s name across three books, spanning more than 800 years of writing, testifies to the consistency of the biblical witness.

Ishvi Son of Saul

1. Royal setting
• “Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua” (1 Samuel 14:49).
• Later battle records mention “Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua” dying on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2). The majority of interpreters equate Ishvi with Abinadab, indicating a common practice of individuals bearing more than one name (compare Jehoahaz–Ahaziah, Uzziah–Azariah).

2. Historical significance
• Ishvi’s place among Saul’s sons locates him at the turning point between judgeship and monarchy.
• While Jonathan’s covenant friendship with David dominates the narrative, Ishvi’s presumed death alongside his father demonstrates the tragic consequences of Saul’s disobedience and the sweeping nature of divine judgment on covenant leaders.

3. Lessons in leadership
• The downfall of Saul, including the loss of his sons, reminds readers that proximity to spiritual privilege does not guarantee covenant blessing apart from obedience.
• Ishvi’s obscurity highlights that history ultimately pivots on fidelity to God’s word rather than on personal renown.

Genealogical Connections and Variations

• The dual appearance of the name in both tribal lists and royal records illustrates how identical names may occur in unrelated lines, stressing the importance of context when tracing biblical persons.
• The Ishvite clan in Numbers 26 eventually contributes to the northern kingdom’s population, while royal Ishvi’s line comes to an abrupt end, making a quiet commentary on the sovereignty of God in raising up and setting down family lines.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant continuity
• From patriarchal migration (Genesis 46) to wilderness census (Numbers 26) to post-exilic genealogy (1 Chronicles 7), the Lord preserves His people and remembers their names.
2. Judgment and mercy
• The Ishvi of Saul’s house is swept away in judgment, whereas the Ishvi of Asher’s house quietly participates in covenant blessing. The juxtaposition illustrates both divine severity toward sin and divine kindness toward obedience (Romans 11:22).
3. Foreshadowing Christ
• The extinction of Saul’s line paves the way for the rise of David, whose greater Son, Jesus Christ, secures an eternal kingship. Ishvi’s silence in 1 Samuel therefore contributes indirectly to the unfolding messianic narrative.

Practical Applications

• Household faithfulness: Even when one’s role seems small, God records and values covenant loyalty through generations.
• Personal humility: Not every believer will be a Jonathan; some will be an Ishvi whose name is mentioned only in a list, yet each part supplies what the body needs (1 Corinthians 12:18).
• Vigilance in leadership: Proximity to spiritual privilege, as with Saul’s sons, must be matched by ongoing obedience lest blessings turn to judgment.

Conclusion

Ishvi’s brief but pointed appearances remind readers that God weaves both noted and obscure individuals into His redemptive tapestry. Whether preserving a clan within Asher or closing the chapter on Saul’s dynasty, the Lord displays His faithfulness to covenant promises and His unwavering commitment to accomplish His purposes in history.

וְיִשְׁוִ֖י וְיִשְׁוִ֥י וישוי לְיִשְׁוִ֕י לישוי lə·yiš·wî leyishVi ləyišwî veyishVi wə·yiš·wî wəyišwîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts