Elisheba
Elisheba (/əˈlɪʃɪbə/; (original) Hebrew: אֱלִישֶׁבַע, romanized: ’Ělīševa‘) was the wife of Aaron, the older brother of Moses and the first High Priest of Israel. She was mentioned once in Exodus 6:23 in the Torah and Christian Old Testament.[1][2]
Elisheba | |
|---|---|
| אֱלִישֶׁבַע | |
,_with_the_Israelites_Camped_before_Mount_Sinai_and_Moses_Ascending_the_Mountain._MET_DP801461.jpg) Aaron and Nadab take leave of Elisheba (pictured from left to right), camped before Mount Sinai, while Moses ascends. | |
| Born | (likely) ancient Egypt |
| Died | Unknown |
| Resting place | Tiberias, Israel |
| Other names | Elisheva (original form of her name) |
| Known for | Being the wife of Aaron, and the matriarch of the first Kohanim of Israel; she is also remembered as one of the prominent women among women in the Bible. |
| Spouse | Aaron (older brother of Moses) |
| Children | 4, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar |
| Relatives | Amminadab (father); Nahshon (brother); Amram (father-in-law) Jochebed (mother-in-law); Moses (brother-in-law); Zipporah (sister-in-law); Miriam (sister-in-law) |
In the Jewish Torah
[edit]In the book of Exodus, she was said to be a daughter of Amminadab from the Tribe of Judah and a sister of Nahshon.[3][4] The Hebrew name Elisheva is composed of two parts: “Eli,” from Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים), one of the Hebrew words for God, and "sheva," which roughly translates to "oath."[5][6] Thus, the name Elisheva translated into English means “God is my oath”[7] or “my God is an oath.”[8]
The Torah mentions that Elisheba and Aaron had four sons: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.[3][9][10] As per halakha, in order for a Jewish person to be legitimately recognized as one of the Kohanim (Hebrew: כֹּהֲנִים) and a member of the priestly lineage/bloodline, they must be a Levite of direct patrilineal descent from Eleazar and Ithamar, the two youngest sons of Aaron and Elisheba (i.e. be descendants of Aaron on both sides of the family).[11][12][13]
In the Christian Bible
[edit]In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, a woman named Elisabet (Greek: Ἐλισάβετ)[14] is said to have been a descendant of Aaron and the wife of Zechariah, who was also a Jewish priest.[15] Elisabet was a relative of Jesus' mother, Mary,[16] and was the mother of John the Baptist with Zechariah.[17]
Derivations of the Name
[edit]In English
[edit]Elizabeth is the common English-language variant of Elisabet, which is derived from Elisheva.[18][19]
In Spanish/Portuguese
[edit]Isabel is the Spanish and Portuguese version of the name Elisheva or Elizabeth in English.[20]
In Italian
[edit]Elisabetta is the Italian version of Elizabeth,[21] while Isabella is the Italian version of Elisheva.[22][23]
In the Muslim world
[edit]Alishba is a modern name that is believed to have been derived from an Arabic-language translation of Elisheva.[24] It is prevalent among Muslims in the Indian subcontinent.[25]
References
[edit]- ^ "Exodus 6:23". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
- ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Exodus 6:23 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
- ^ a b "Exodus 6:23". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Exodus 6:23 - Genealogies of Moses and Aaron". Bible Hub. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Strong's Greek: 2241. ἠλί (éli) -- Eli". biblehub.com. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ Gesenius, Wilhelm; Tregelles, Samuel Prideaux (1857). Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures; translated, with additions, and corrections from the author's Thesaurus and other works. Gerstein - University of Toronto. London, Bagster. p. 52.
- ^ "Elisheva". HebrewNamer. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Elisheva - Jewish Girl Name Meaning and Pronunciation". 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Exodus 6:23 - Genealogies of Moses and Aaron". Bible Hub. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "oremus Bible Browser : Exodus 6:23". bible.oremus.org. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Exodus 28:1". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Numbers 3:10". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Numbers 3:4". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Greek Concordance: Ἐλισάβετ (Elisabet) -- 9 Occurrences". biblehub.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Luke 1:5 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Luke 1:36 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Luke 1:13 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Campbell, Mike. "Meaning, origin and history of the name Elizabeth". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "What Does the Name Elizabeth Mean?". Parents. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Campbell, Mike. "Meaning, origin and history of the name Isabel". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Campbell, Mike. "Meaning, origin and history of the name Elisabetta". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Isabella/Elisheva". NJOP. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Isabella - Baby Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity". www.thebump.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Alishba Baby Name: Meaning, Origin, Popularity". www.momjunction.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Alishba Baby Name: Meaning, Origin, Popularity". www.momjunction.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.