Lexical Definition
יִשְׁמָעֵאל Yishmâʻêʼl (yish-maw-ale') Ishmael N:N-M-P
from שָׁמַע and אֵל; God will hear
Ishmael.
- § Ishmael = "God will hear"
- Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites
1) son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples
2) son of Nethaniah and the murderer of Gedaliah
3) a Benjamite, one of the sons of Azel a descendant of Saul through Meribbaal or Mephibosheth
4) a Judaite, father of Zebadiah
5) a Judaite, son of Johanan and one of the captains who aided Jehoiada in restoring Joash to the throne
6) a priest of the family of Pashur with a foreign wife whom he was forced to put away by Ezra
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ | Ishmael | Jer.41.8 • Jer.41.9 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל | Ishmael | Jer.40.16 • Jer.41.3 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל | Ishmael | Jer.41.2 • Jer.41.6 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֥אל | Ishmael | Jer.41.9 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל | Ishmael | Jer.41.7 • Jer.41.16 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל | Ishmael | 2Kgs.25.25 • Jer.40.14 • Jer.40.15 • Jer.41.1 • Jer.41.10 • Jer.41.12 • Jer.41.18 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל | Ishmael | Jer.41.11 • Jer.41.14 |
| יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל | Ishmael | Jer.41.13 |
| יִ֠שְׁמָעֵאל | Ishmael | Jer.41.10 |
| וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל | and Ishmael | 2Kgs.25.23 • Jer.40.8 • Jer.41.15 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.23
- son of: Nethaniah (נְתַנְיָה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
יִשְׁמָעֵאל48 proper name, masculine El heareth; Sabean יסמעאל Hal187; on from compare LagBN 131); —
1. son of Abraham and Hagar Gen 16:11 (name explanation ׳רגו ׳שָׁמַע י), vGen 16:15. 16 + 11 t. Gen 17.25, Gen 28:9 (twice in verse); Gen 36:3; 1Chr 1:28; 1Chr 1:29; 1Chr 1:31 Ισμαηλ
2. usually Ισμαηλ: murderer of Gedaliah Jer 41:8; Jer 40:14; Jer 40:15; Jer 40:16 + 17 t. Jer 41; 2Kgs 25:23; 2Kgs 25:25 (ᵐ5L Ισραηλ !).
3. in Benjamin 1Chr 8:38; 1Chr 9:44.
4. in Judah:
a. 2Chr 19:11.
b. 2Chr 23:1.
5. Jew with foreign wife Ezra 10:22, Σαμαηλ, A ᵐ5L Ισμαηλ.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 16:11 · 16:15 · Chapter 17 · 28:9 · 36:3 |
| 2 Kings | 25:23 · 25:25 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:28 · 1:29 · 1:31 · 8:38 · 9:44 |
| 2 Chronicles | 19:11 · 23:1 |
| Ezra | 10:22 |
| Jeremiah | 40:14 · 40:15 · 40:16 · Chapter 41 · 41:8 |
Profile
Male • Jeremiah's opponent • Assassinated Gedaliah the governor; led captives to Ammon.
Jeremiah's adversary living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, assassinated Gedaliah the governor and led captives to Ammon before being pursued by Johanan (2Ki.25.23,25; Jer.40-41).
- An adversary of Jeremiah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.23;
- only referred to as Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל;
- a son of Nethaniah נְתַנְיָה.
Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, was a member of the royal family of Judah (2Ki.25.25). After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remnant, Ishmael and other army officers came to Gedaliah at Mizpah (2Ki.25.23; Jer.40.8).
Despite being warned of Ishmael's treacherous intentions (Jer.40.13-16), Gedaliah welcomed him. However, Ishmael, acting under the orders of Baalis, king of the Ammonites, assassinated Gedaliah and his men (2Ki.25.25; Jer.41.1-3).
Ishmael then led captives, including the king's daughters, from Mizpah toward Ammon (Jer.41.10). When Johanan and the other leaders heard of Ishmael's actions, they pursued him. Ishmael's captives were rescued, but he escaped to the Ammonites with eight men (Jer.41.11-15).
Ishmael's treachery further devastated the remnant of Judah after the Babylonian conquest. His actions led the survivors to flee to Egypt out of fear of Babylonian reprisals (Jer.41.16-18), directly disobeying God's command through Jeremiah (Jer.42-43).
All entries for Ishmael: יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Related Profiles:
- Nethaniah (father)