Lexical Definition

‎יִשָּׂשכָר‎ Yissâˢkâr (yis-saw-kawr') Issachar ^N:N-M-P
(strictly yis-saws-kawr'); from ‎נָשָׂא‎ and ‎שָׂכָר‎; he will bring a reward

Issachar.

• § Issachar = "there is recompense"
• Jissaskar, a son of Jacob

n pr m
1) the 9th son of Jacob and the 5th by Leah his first wife and the progenitor of a tribe by his name
2) a Korahite Levite and the 7th son of Obed-edom and doorkeeper to the temple
n pr coll
3) the tribe descended from Issachar the son of Jacob
n pr loc
4) the territory allocated to the descendants of Issachar when they entered the land of Canaan

See Greek: Ἰσαχάρ

Extended Information

• A man of the tribe of Issachar living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.18
• son of: Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל) and Leah (לֵאָה)
• brother of: Reuben (רְאוּבֵן), Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן), Levi (לֵוִי), Judah (יְהוּדָה), Zebulun (זְבוּלוּן) and Dinah (דִּינָה)
• half-brother of: Dan (דָּן), Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי), Gad (גָּד), Asher (אָשֵׁר), Joseph (יוֹסֵף) and Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין)
• father of: Tola (תּוֹלָע), Puah (פּוּאָה), Jashub (יָשׁוּב) and Shimron (שִׁמְרוֹן)
• Also named: Isachar (Ἰσαχάρ "Issachar" Ἰσαχάρ)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יִשָּׂשכָר‎₄₈ (so always ᵑ0, Qr perpet.; Ben Naphtali ‎יִשְׂשָׂכָר‎ Baer^{Gn p. 84 f.}) proper name, masculine Issachar (etymology and meaning dubious; ᵑ0 as if Niph`al Imperfect √ ‎שׂכר‎; Kt = ‎יֵשׁ שָׂכָר‎ there is recompense (compare Gen 30:18), so Thes and others; this the true etymology according to Ol^{§§ 69 c; 277 f.} Kö^{i. 120} see ‎יֵשׁ שָׂכָר‎ Jer 31:16; 2Chr 15:7 = ‎אִישׁ‎ ‎שָׂכָר‎ (a more probable combination in proper name) We^{Sam 95}; > ‎יִשָּׂכָר‎ (ᵑ0), or ‎יִשָּׂא שׂכר‎; ᵐ5 Ισσαχαρ, see especially Gen 30:18 Ισσαχαρ, ὅ ἐστιν μισθός) —

1. fifth son of Jacob and Leah (apparently ninth son of Jacob) Gen 30:18; Gen 35:23; Gen 46:13; Gen 49:14; Exod 1:3; Num 1:8 ‎׳‎‎בְּנֵי ישׂ‎ Num 1:28; Num 2:5; Num 26:23; Josh 19:17; 1Chr 7:1; 1Chr 12:33* (32 van d. H.); ‎׳‎‎מִשְׁפְּחוֺת ישׂ‎ Num 26:25; 1Chr 7:5 ‎׳‎‎מַטֵּה ישׂ‎ Num 1:29; Num 2:5; Num 13:7; Josh 21:6; Josh 21:28; 1Chr 6:47*; 1Chr 6:57* ‎׳‎‎מטה בני ישׂ‎ Num 10:15; Num 34:26; Josh 19:23 ‎׳‎‎בֵּית ישׂ‎ 1Kgs 15:27 hence ‎׳‎‎ישׂ‎ alone = tribe of Issachar, Num 7:18; Deut 27:12; Deut 33:18; Josh 19:17; Judg 5:15 (twice in verse); Judg 10:1; Ezek 48:33 (‎׳‎‎שׁער ישׂ‎), 1Chr 27:18; 2Chr 30:18 = territory of the tribe Josh 17:10; Josh 17:11; 1Kgs 4:17; 1Chr 12:41* (40 van d. H.); transition from tribe to territory Ezek 48:25; Ezek 48:26.

2. 7th son of Obed-Edom 1Chr 26:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Book	Refs
Genesis	30:18 · 35:23 · 46:13 · 49:14
Exodus	1:3
Numbers	1:8 · 1:28 · 1:29 · 2:5 · 7:18 · 10:15 · 13:7 · 26:23 · 26:25 · 34:26
Deuteronomy	27:12 · 33:18
Joshua	17:10 · 17:11 · 19:17 · 19:23 · 21:6 · 21:28
Judges	5:15 · 10:1
1 Kings	4:17 · 15:27
1 Chronicles	6:47* · 6:57* · 7:1 · 7:5 · 12:33* · 12:41* · 26:5 · 27:18
2 Chronicles	15:7 · 30:18
Jeremiah	31:16
Ezekiel	48:25 · 48:26 · 48:33

Profile

Male • Son of Israel • Son of Jacob and Leah, forefather of tribe

Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and fifth by Leah, and he became the forefather of the Israelite tribe of Issachar.

• Jacob's son who founded the tribe of Issachar living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.18;
• referred to as Issachar יִשָּׂשכָר, or Issachar Ἰσαχάρ;
• son of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל and Leah לֵאָה;
• a brother of Reuben רְאוּבֵן, Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן, Levi לֵוִי, Judah יְהוּדָה, Zebulun זְבוּלוּן and Dinah דִּינָה;
• half-brother of: Dan דָּן, Naphtali נַפְתָּלִי, Gad גָּד, Asher אָשֵׁר, Joseph יוֹסֵף and Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין;
• father of Tola תּוֹלָע, Puah פּוּאָה, Jashub יָשׁוּב and Shimron שִׁמְרוֹן.

Issachar was the ninth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the fifth son of Leah (Gen. 30:18; 35:23; 46:13; 1 Chr. 2:1). His name means "man of reward" or "there is reward", referring to Leah's belief that God rewarded her for giving her maidservant to Jacob (Gen. 30:18).

Issachar had four sons: Tola, Puvah, Job (or Jashub), and Shimron (Gen. 46:13; Num. 26:23-24; 1 Chr. 7:1). His descendants became one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In Jacob's blessing, Issachar was described as a "strong donkey" and "resting between the sheepfolds", indicating his tribe would be hardworking and content with an agrarian life (Gen. 49:14-15).

During the wilderness years, the tribe of Issachar was led by Nethanel son of Zuar (Num. 1:8; 2:5; 7:18; 10:15). They encamped on the east side of the tabernacle under the standard of Judah (Num. 2:5).

In the census taken in the wilderness of Sinai, the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400 men aged 20 and over (Num. 1:28-29). In the second census on the plains of Moab they numbered 64,300 (Num. 26:25).

Issachar's allotment in Canaan included the fertile Jezreel Valley and was bordered by Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Jordan (Josh. 19:17-23). The Levitical cities in Issachar's territory were Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth and En-gannim (Josh. 21:28-29).

The tribe of Issachar was commended for providing wise leadership during the time of David (1 Chr. 12:32). One of David's officers, Omri son of Michael, was from Issachar (1 Chr. 27:18). The tribe is also noted for being faithful to Hezekiah's Passover invitation (2 Chr. 30:18).

In Ezekiel's vision of the division of the restored land, Issachar is allotted the sixth portion (Ezek. 48:25-26). In John's apocalyptic vision, Issachar is one of the tribes sealed by God (Rev. 7:7).

All entries for Issachar: יִשָּׂשכָר ☩ Ἰσαχάρ

Related Profiles:

• Israel (father)
• Leah (mother)
• Reuben (sibling)
• Simeon (sibling)
• Levi (sibling)
• Judah (sibling)
• Dan (sibling)
• Naphtali (sibling)
• Gad (sibling)
• Asher (sibling)
• Zebulun (sibling)
• Dinah (sibling)
• Joseph (sibling)
• Benjamin (sibling)
• Tola (child)
• Puah (child)
• Jashub (child)
• Shimron (child)