from the same as גָּבִישׁ; stiffening; Magbish, an Israelite, or a place in Palestine; Magbish.
Transliteration:Magbîysh
Pronunciation:mag-beesh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H4019}}` (Magbîysh) is a proper noun, primarily identified as a personal or place name. Its core meaning is derived from the root גָּבִישׁ (gavish, `{{H1378}}`), which signifies "crystal" or "hail." The Strong's definition for `{{H4019}}` specifically notes "stiffening" as its underlying meaning, suggesting a quality of hardness, firmness, or rigidity. This etymological connection implies characteristics such as solidity, purity (like crystal), or perhaps a resilient, unyielding nature. As a proper noun, its semantic range is restricted to its referent in the biblical text, but the etymological root provides insight into the potential connotations of the name itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H4019}}` (Magbîysh) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the book of Ezra:
* [[Ezra 2:30]]: "The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six."
This verse is part of a detailed register listing the families and individuals who returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. The context is a census of the returning community, meticulously documenting those who re-established themselves in the land. In this list, "Magbish" functions as a patronymic, indicating the ancestral head of a family or clan, or possibly the name of a place from which a group of returnees originated. The precise identity—whether a person or a locality—is not explicitly stated, but its inclusion underscores the importance of lineage and communal identity among the post-exilic Jewish population. The number "one hundred fifty-six" indicates a modest but significant group contributing to the restoration efforts.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word to `{{H4019}}` is its root, גָּבִישׁ (gavish, `{{H1378}}`). This term is found in two other significant biblical passages:
* [[Job 28:18]]: Here, גָּבִישׁ is translated as "crystal," used in a poetic description of the immense value and inaccessibility of wisdom, comparing it to precious stones and metals. "Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; the price of wisdom is above pearls." This usage highlights the rarity, beauty, and intrinsic worth associated with crystal.
* [[Ezekiel 1:22]]: In Ezekiel's visionary account of the divine throne-chariot, גָּבִישׁ describes the firmament above the living creatures, appearing "like the color of awesome crystal stretched out over their heads." This imagery evokes a sense of immense clarity, dazzling brilliance, and formidable solidity, reflecting the majesty and transcendent nature of God's presence.
The connection between `{{H4019}}` and `{{H1378}}` suggests that the name "Magbish" might have carried connotations of firmness, clarity, purity, or even a certain awe-inspiring quality, drawing from the imagery of crystal.
### Theological Significance
Given its singular occurrence as a name in a genealogical list, the direct theological significance of `{{H4019}}` (Magbîysh) is indirect. However, its inclusion in the register of returnees from exile places it within a highly significant theological narrative: the restoration of Israel. Those listed, including the "children of Magbish," represent the remnant through whom God's covenant promises were being fulfilled.
The etymological root, "stiffening" or "crystal," might offer subtle theological nuances:
* **Resilience and Steadfastness:** If "stiffening" implies firmness, the name could subtly point to the resilience and steadfastness of the returning exiles, who endured hardship and remained committed to their identity and faith. They were a people hardened and purified by their experience, now resolute in rebuilding.
* **Purity and Clarity:** The association with "crystal" (`{{H1378}}`) could evoke ideas of purity, transparency, or divine clarity. Perhaps the family of Magbish, like others, was seen as a "pure" remnant, dedicated to re-establishing true worship and community in Jerusalem.
* **Divine Foundation:** The "awesome crystal" of Ezekiel's vision (`{{H1378}}`) suggests a divine, unshakeable foundation. While speculative, the name "Magbish" could subtly echo a sense of being grounded in God's firm purpose for His people.
Ultimately, the theological weight lies not in the individual name itself, but in its contribution to the larger narrative of God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring His people after the judgment of exile.
### Summary
`{{H4019}}` (Magbîysh) is a Hebrew proper noun appearing once in [[Ezra 2:30]] as the name of an ancestral head or a place, identifying a group of 156 individuals who returned from Babylonian exile. Derived from the root גָּבִישׁ (gavish, `{{H1378}}`), meaning "crystal" or "hail," the name's etymological sense of "stiffening" suggests qualities of firmness, solidity, or purity. While its direct theological significance is limited by its single occurrence, its presence in the register of returnees underscores the divine work of restoration and the importance of lineage in the post-exilic community. The underlying meaning of the name subtly evokes themes of resilience, purity, and steadfastness in the context of God's enduring covenant with Israel.
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