אִשָּׁה

“Woman” in Hebrew is Ishah (אִשָּׁה), pronounced “ee-SHAH.” Ishah is formed from ish (man) with the feminine ending -ah. Some scholars also connect it to the root א-נ-שׁ (enosh, 'human being'). The wordplay between ish and ishah in Genesis 2:23 is the first poem in the Bible, establishing the intimate connection between man and woman.

Ishah (אִשָּׁה) means “Woman, wife” in Biblical Hebrew. Ishah appears over 780 times in the Hebrew Bible. It means 'woman,' 'wife,' and 'each one' (feminine). The phrase 'eshet chayil' (woman of valor, Proverbs 31:10) uses the same word for 'might' that describes warriors, conferring warrior-like honor on women.

Ishah is pronounced “ee-SHAH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root א-שׁ-ה.

Eshet Chayil (אֵשֶׁת חַיִל) means 'Woman of Valor' or 'Woman of Might.' The word 'chayil' is the same word used for military strength and warrior prowess. Proverbs 31:10 says this woman's worth exceeds rubies. She is entrepreneurial, generous, wise, and fearless. In Jewish tradition, husbands sing this passage to their wives every Shabbat evening — a weekly affirmation of her strength and worth.

While the ancient world generally devalued women, the Torah was remarkably progressive. Women could inherit property (Numbers 27), divorce was regulated to protect wives (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), widows and orphans were given special protection (Exodus 22:22), and female leaders like Deborah, Huldah, and Miriam were honored. The eshet chayil of Proverbs 31 manages finances, trades in real estate, and teaches wisdom — a far cry from being mere property.

Key women include: Sarah (mother of the covenant), Rebekah (shaper of destiny), Rachel and Leah (mothers of the twelve tribes), Miriam (prophetess and worship leader), Deborah (judge and military leader), Ruth (model of loyalty, ancestor of David), Hannah (model of prayer), Esther (savior of her people), and the unnamed Eshet Chayil (ideal of godly womanhood).