The Hebrew word Yizrâch, represented by H3155, is a descriptive term for an Izrahite. According to its base definition, it is a variation of Ezrachite or Zarchite, indicating a descendant of Zerach. This specific identifier appears only 1 time in 1 verse, where it is used to denote the lineage of a specific individual.
The single biblical appearance of H3155 is in a detailed administrative record. In 1 Chronicles 27:8, the text identifies a military leader, stating, "The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite." This usage places the term squarely in the context of the structured military divisions established for the kingdom. Shamhuth the Izrahite was in command of a course H4256 of twenty-four thousand men (H6242, H702, H505) who served during the fifth month of the year.
Several related words from its only context help clarify the function of the Izrahite named Shamhuth:
- H8049 Shamhûwth (Shamhuth, an Israelite): This is the proper name of the individual who is identified by the term Izrahite H3155. He is listed as the captain for the fifth month's division 1 Chronicles 27:8.
- H8269 sar (a head person (of any rank or class); captain): This word defines the role held by Shamhuth the Izrahite. He was a captain, or a chief officer, responsible for a large contingent of soldiers.
- H4256 machălôqeth (a section (of Levites, people or soldiers); company, course, division): This term describes the organizational unit that the Izrahite commanded. His "course" was one of the rotating divisions responsible for serving the kingdom.
While appearing only once, the context of H3155 highlights specific organizational principles within the biblical narrative:
- Structured Order: The term is embedded within a list that details a highly organized system of rotational military service. The mention of a specific captain for a specific month with a specific number of troops demonstrates meticulous administrative order 1 Chronicles 27:8.
- Personal Identity: The use of Izrahite shows that even within a large-scale, systematic roster, an individual's specific lineage was deemed important enough to record. Shamhuth is identified not just by his name and rank but also by his ancestral origin.
- Duty and Service: The context is one of appointed service to the kingdom. Shamhuth the Izrahite and his division had an assigned duty to fulfill, underscoring a theme of structured responsibility and service.
In summary, Yizrâch H3155 is a specific gentilic, or ancestral identifier, meaning Izrahite. Its sole use in Scripture is not for a major theological argument but for providing a precise identity to a military captain named Shamhuth. This single reference in 1 Chronicles 27:8 demonstrates the Bible's attention to administrative and historical detail, illustrating how individual lineage was preserved and noted within the broader framework of the Israelite kingdom's structure.
TRV