Lexical Summary
Ishhod: Ishhod
Original Word: אִישְׁהוֹד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Iyshhowd
Pronunciation: ish-HODE
Phonetic Spelling: (eesh-hode')
KJV: Ishod
NASB: Ishhod
Word Origin: [from H376 (אִישׁ - man) and H1935 (הוֹד - splendor)]
1. man of renown
2. Ishod, an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ishod
From 'iysh and howd; man of renown; Ishod, an Israelite -- Ishod.
see HEBREW 'iysh
see HEBREW howd
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ish and
hodDefinition"man of majesty," a man of Manasseh
NASB TranslationIshhod (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
man of majesty) a man of Manasseh
1 Chronicles 7:18 Topical Lexicon
Biblical Placement Ishhod is named once in the canonical record: “His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah” (1 Chronicles 7:18). The verse appears in the genealogy of Manasseh, highlighting Ishhod as a nephew of Gilead and a great-grandson of Manasseh through Machir.
Historical Setting within the Tribe of Manasseh
1. Territorial Context
• Manasseh’s inheritance spanned both sides of the Jordan River (Joshua 17:1-6; Numbers 32:33-42).
• Gilead, Ishhod’s uncle, became eponymous for the region east of the Jordan, rich in pastoral land and strategic trade routes (Genesis 31:21; Judges 10:8).
• Ishhod therefore belonged to a family that shaped the trans-Jordan portion of Israel’s military and economic strength.
2. Family Connections
• Siblings: Abiezer—later the clan of Gideon the judge (Judges 6:11-34); Mahlah—linked by name to the daughters of Zelophehad, whose petition affirmed female inheritance rights (Numbers 27:1-11).
• Immediate kin thus include both a future deliverer of Israel and a line associated with covenantal inheritance reform, positioning Ishhod amid noteworthy redemptive themes.
Thematic Significance of the Name
The Hebrew elements convey the idea of “man of majesty/splendour.” In Scripture, splendour is often associated with the revealed glory of God (Exodus 15:11; Psalm 8:1). Though Ishhod’s deeds are not recorded, his very name testifies to divine glory imprinted on individual identity within the covenant community.
Genealogies and Divine Faithfulness
1 Chronicles 7 preserves names like Ishhod to demonstrate that no tribe, clan, or person is overlooked in God’s redemptive program. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, underscores continuity between pre-exilic promise and post-exilic hope (1 Chronicles 9:1). Each listed individual affirms the Lord’s commitment to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:1-3).
Ministerial and Devotional Insights
1. Value of the Unknown Servant
• Ishhod reminds readers that kingdom significance is not limited to prominent figures. Hebrews 11:32-40 lists both named heroes and “others” whose faith equally pleased God.
• In ministry, faithfulness often unfolds in hidden contexts; the Lord records those seemingly obscure acts (Malachi 3:16).
2. Splendour Reflected in Believers
• The New Testament links divine splendour to transformed lives: “But we all, with unveiled faces, behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Ishhod’s name foreshadows the calling of every believer to mirror God’s majesty through holy conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Christological Perspective
The Chronicler’s genealogies culminate in the post-exilic expectation of a messianic King (1 Chronicles 3:10-24). By situating Ishhod within Manasseh—a tribe granted inheritance on both sides of the Jordan—the text anticipates the Messiah who unites heaven and earth, Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-18). The splendour implied in Ishhod’s name reaches its fullness in “the radiance of God’s glory” revealed in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3).
Practical Application
• Embrace God-given identity: Like Ishhod, every believer bears a name written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
• Recognize hidden influence: A single life placed in a family line can prepare for future deliverance, as Ishhod’s sibling Abiezer did for Gideon.
• Celebrate corporate memory: Local churches benefit from recording testimonies and histories, mirroring Scripture’s care for genealogical detail.
Summary
Ishhod’s single biblical appearance anchors him within the influential house of Manasseh, surrounded by relatives whose accounts advance God’s covenant purposes. His name, denoting splendour, points to the glory destined for God’s people. Though silent in deeds, Ishhod speaks through placement: every life in the covenant community matters, and every name serves the unfolding narrative that finds its climax in Christ’s radiant reign.
Forms and Transliterations
אִישְׁה֔וֹד אישהוד ’î·šə·hō·wḏ ’îšəhōwḏ ishHod
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