Original Word: יֵשֶׁר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yesher
Pronunciation: YEH-sher
Phonetic Spelling: (yay'-sher)
KJV: Jesher
NASB: Jesher
Word Origin: [from H3474 (יָשַׁר - right)]

1. the right
2. Jesher, an Israelite

the right; Jesher, an Israelite

From yashar; the right; Jesher, an Israelite:

see HEBREW yashar

Word Origin
from yashar
Definition
"uprightness," a son of Caleb
NASB Translation
Jesher (1).

יֶ֫שֶׁר proper name, masculine (uprightness) son of Caleb 1 Chronicles 2:18 (on pointing see Baer), ᵐ5 Ιωασαρ, ᵐ5^L Σαρ.

Identification

Jesher (Hebrew יֵשֶׁר, Yesher) is a personal name occurring once in the Old Testament. The name is drawn from the Hebrew root conveying straightness or uprightness, suggesting moral rectitude.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 2:18 records: “Caleb son of Hezron had children with his wife Azubah (also called Jerioth): her sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Genealogical Context

1. Line of Judah. Jesher belongs to the expansive genealogy of Judah that opens 1 Chronicles. By placing him in the family record, Scripture anchors him within the covenant lineage that ultimately culminates in David and, prophetically, in the Messiah.
2. Son of Caleb son of Hezron. This Caleb is a grandson of Judah through Hezron and is distinct from Caleb son of Jephunneh, the famous spy (Numbers 13). His branch illustrates the breadth of the tribe and highlights God’s faithfulness to every segment within Judah.
3. Brotherly Setting. Jesher’s brothers, Shobab and Ardon, bear names that likewise speak to character or circumstance, underscoring that Old Testament naming frequently carried theological or moral overtones.

Theological Themes

Uprightness as a Covenant Ideal
• The semantic connection of Jesher with “upright” mirrors a recurring biblical motif: the Lord’s expectation that His covenant people embody moral integrity.
• Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just.” God Himself is upright, calling His people to reflect His character.
• Proverbs 2:7 affirms, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.” The appearance of a name meaning “upright” inside Judah’s genealogy quietly affirms that righteousness is both God-given and God-required.

Genealogy and Divine Promise

The chronicler’s meticulous lists were composed for post-exilic readers who needed assurance of their identity after national upheaval. Every name—Jesher included—testifies that the Lord preserves His people generation after generation, safeguarding the royal and messianic line.

Practical and Ministry Insights

1. Names as Testimony. Parents in Israel often bore witness to their faith through the names they gave their children. Modern believers likewise bear witness when they consciously align family life with biblical values.
2. Small Names, Great Story. Though Jesher is never mentioned in exploits or narratives, his placement in Scripture reminds us that unseen faithfulness is still recorded by God. A believer’s significance is measured not by earthly renown but by inclusion in God’s redemptive record (Hebrews 6:10).
3. The Call to Upright Living. Church leaders can draw on Jesher’s name when teaching on integrity. Just as the chronicler immortalized “uprightness” in the tribal record, congregations are encouraged to cultivate reputations marked by honesty, justice, and holiness (Philippians 2:15).

Related Biblical References

Psalm 25:8; Psalm 125:4; Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 26:7; Micah 2:7.

The single mention of Jesher, though brief, contributes to the cumulative biblical portrait of a God who prizes uprightness and who faithfully preserves each branch of His covenant family.

יֵ֥שֶׁר ישר yê·šer yêšer YesherInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts