אִישׁ
Ish
Man, husband
Ish (אִישׁ) is a Hebrew word meaning “man, husband,” pronounced “EESH.” Derived from the root א-י-שׁ, ish appears 2,100 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H376).
| Hebrew | אִישׁ |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Ish |
| Pronunciation | EESH |
| Meaning | Man, husband |
| Root Letters | א-י-שׁ |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 2,100× |
| Key Verse | Genesis 2:23 |
| Strong's Number | H376 |
| Category | Family & Relationships |
The first recorded words of a human being in the Bible are a love poem. When Adam saw Eve for the first time, he exclaimed, 'She shall be called ishah (woman) because she was taken out of ish (man)' (Genesis 2:23). This wordplay — ish and ishah — is one of the most beautiful linguistic moments in Scripture. In Hebrew, the words for man and woman are nearly identical, differing only by a single letter, revealing that men and women share a fundamental essence while possessing distinct identity. The rabbis noticed something remarkable: ish (אִישׁ) contains the letter yod (י), and ishah (אִשָּׁה) contains the letter he (ה). Together, those two letters spell Yah (יה) — the name of God. But remove those divine letters and both words reduce to esh (אֵשׁ) — fire. The ancient teaching: when God is at the center of a marriage, there is harmony; when God is removed, only consuming fire remains. Understanding ish within the Hebrew vision of marriage reveals that partnership between man and woman is not merely social convention but a theological reality designed to reflect the image of God.
Key Bible Verse: Genesis 2:23
“Then the man (ish) said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman (ishah), because she was taken out of Man (ish).'”
What Is the Root of Ish in Hebrew?
Ish comes from a root possibly meaning 'to be strong' or 'to exist.' The parallel between ish and ishah (with the feminine ending -ah) creates one of Hebrew's most famous wordplays, used by Adam in the first human speech recorded in Scripture.
What Does Ish Mean in the Bible?
Ish appears over 2,100 times in the Hebrew Bible. It means 'man' (human male), 'husband,' 'each one,' and sometimes 'champion' or 'warrior.' It's used in contrasts: 'ish v'ishah' (man and wife), 'ish el ish' (one to another). The title 'ish Elohim' (man of God) is an honorific for prophets.
How Is Ish Used in Modern Hebrew?
Under the chuppah (wedding canopy) in a Jewish wedding, the groom traditionally says, 'Harei at mekudeshet li' — 'Behold, you are sanctified to me.' The ish-ishah relationship is seen as a reflection of God's covenant with Israel.
How to Use Ish in Prayer & Worship
Pray for marriages to reflect the ish-ishah design of Genesis 2 — unity, complementarity, and God at the center. Whether married or single, ask God to be the yod and he in your relationships, transforming potential fire into divine partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ish
How do you say “Man” in Hebrew?
“Man” in Hebrew is Ish (אִישׁ), pronounced “EESH.” Ish comes from a root possibly meaning 'to be strong' or 'to exist.' The parallel between ish and ishah (with the feminine ending -ah) creates one of Hebrew's most famous wordplays, used by Adam in the first human speech recorded in Scripture.
What does Ish mean in the Bible?
Ish (אִישׁ) means “Man, husband” in Biblical Hebrew. Ish appears over 2,100 times in the Hebrew Bible. It means 'man' (human male), 'husband,' 'each one,' and sometimes 'champion' or 'warrior.' It's used in contrasts: 'ish v'ishah' (man and wife), 'ish el ish' (one to another). The title 'ish Elohim' (man of God) is an honorific for prophets.
How do you pronounce Ish?
Ish is pronounced “EESH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root א-י-שׁ.
What is the wordplay between ish and ishah?
Ish (man) and ishah (woman) sound almost identical in Hebrew — ishah adds a feminine ending to ish. Adam's first words celebrate this connection: 'She is ishah because she was taken from ish' (Genesis 2:23). The near-identical words express both unity and distinction — man and woman are the same essence with different expressions, designed to complement each other.
What does 'man of God' mean in Hebrew?
Ish Elohim (אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים) — 'man of God' — is a title given to prophets like Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1), Elijah (1 Kings 17:18), and Elisha (2 Kings 4:7). It identifies someone who speaks and acts on God's behalf. The title combines the common word 'ish' with the divine name 'Elohim,' marking the person as God's authorized representative.
What is the rabbinical teaching about ish, ishah, and fire?
The Talmud teaches that ish (אִישׁ) contains yod (י) and ishah (אִשָּׁה) contains he (ה). Together, yod-he spells Yah — God's name. Remove these letters and both words become esh (אֵשׁ, fire). The lesson: when God is present in a marriage, there is peace and unity. When God is absent, only destructive fire remains. This elegant wordplay has inspired Jewish marriage teachings for centuries.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H376: Ish
- Bible Gateway — Genesis 2:23 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for א-י-שׁ
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