### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Yishvîy**, represented by `{{H3440}}`, means **level** and is used in scripture as the name for two distinct Israelites. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses**, where its spelling in translation varies between Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, and Jesui.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name `{{H3440}}` is used to identify two men in separate lineages. One is Ishui, a son of King Saul [[1 Samuel 14:49]]. The other is a son of Asher, the son of Jacob. This second individual is listed as Isui in the genealogy of Asher's sons [[Genesis 46:17]] and as Ishuai in a parallel list [[1 Chronicles 7:30]]. His significance as a progenitor is confirmed in the census of the tribes, where Jesui `{{H3440}}` is named as the father of the family of the Jesuites [[Numbers 26:44]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the genealogical context of `{{H3440}}`:
* `{{H836}}` **ʼÂshêr** (happy): Yishvi is identified as a son of Asher, one of Jacob's sons and the namesake of one of Israel's tribes [[Genesis 46:17]].
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (son): This word is essential to understanding Yishvi's identity, defining him as "a son (as a builder of the family name)." It appears in every verse where `{{H3440}}` is mentioned, establishing his relationship to either Asher or Saul ([[Genesis 46:17]], [[1 Samuel 14:49]]).
* `{{H3441}}` **Yishvîy** (a Jishvite): This patronymic identifies the "descendants of Jishvi." It is used specifically to name "the family of the Jesuites" as a recognized clan within the tribe of Asher [[Numbers 26:44]].
* `{{H4940}}` **mishpâchâh** (family): This term denotes a "circle of relatives" or clan. It is used to define the descendants of Yishvi as "the family of the Jesuites," a formal subdivision within the tribe of Asher [[Numbers 26:44]].
### Theological Significance
The primary significance of `{{H3440}}` is its role in documenting the structure of Israel.
* **Genealogical Marker:** The name firmly places two individuals within the biblical record: one in the royal lineage of Saul and the other in the tribal lineage of Asher ([[1 Samuel 14:49]], [[Genesis 46:17]]).
* **Founder of a Clan:** Yishvi, the son of Asher, is recorded as the head of a distinct family unit, "the family of the Jesuites" [[Numbers 26:44]]. This status is important for matters of census, inheritance, and tribal organization.
* **Tribal Identity:** The inclusion of Yishvi's descendants in the census of Numbers highlights how individual patriarchal lines formed the collective identity and structure of the larger tribes of Israel [[Numbers 26:44]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3440}}` is a proper name that serves as a vital genealogical pin in the biblical narrative. It identifies both a son of Israel's first king and, more significantly, a son of Asher who became the founder of a recognized family. The name's legacy is preserved through the establishment of the Jesuites, demonstrating how individual lineage contributed to the overall composition of the nation of Israel.
TRV