Elisheba
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Aaron_and_Nadab_Taking_Leave_of_Elisheba_%28%3F%29%2C_with_the_Israelites_Camped_before_Mount_Sinai_and_Moses_Ascending_the_Mountain._MET_DP801461.jpg/295px-Aaron_and_Nadab_Taking_Leave_of_Elisheba_%28%3F%29%2C_with_the_Israelites_Camped_before_Mount_Sinai_and_Moses_Ascending_the_Mountain._MET_DP801461.jpg)
Elisheva (/əˈlɪʃɪbə/; Hebrew: אֱלִישֶׁבַע, romanized: ’Ělīšeḇa‘), or alternatively, Elisheba, was the wife of the Israelite prophet Aaron, who was the elder brother of Moses and the first High Priest of Israel, according to Exodus 6:23 in the Hebrew Torah and Christian Old Testament.[1][2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Tiberias_july_013.jpg/310px-Tiberias_july_013.jpg)
In the Torah and Christian Bible
[edit]She was said to be a daughter of Amminadab from the Tribe of Judah and a sister of Nahshon, also from the Tribe of Judah.[3][4] The Hebrew name is composed of two parts: in one interpretation, "Eli" means "my God" and "sheva" means "oath."[5][6] The name Elisheva can thus be translated as "God is (my) oath.”
Exodus 6:23 in the Torah and Old Testament records that Elisheva and Aaron had four sons: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.[3][7][8] In order to be legitimately recognized as hereditary priests (Kohanim; Hebrew: כֹּהֲנִים), Jews are required by halakha to be Levites of direct patrilineal descent from Eleazar and Ithamar, the two youngest sons of Aaron and Elisheva.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, a woman named Elisabet (Greek: Ἐλισάβετ)[9] is said to have been a descendant of Aaron and the wife of Zechariah, who was also a Jewish priest.[10] Elisabet was a relative of Jesus' mother, Mary,[11] and was the mother of John the Baptist with Zechariah.[12]
Derivations of the Name
[edit]In English
[edit]Elizabeth is the common English-language variant of Elisabet, which is derived from Elisheva.[13][14]
In Spanish/Portuguese
[edit]Isabel is the Spanish and Portuguese version of the name Elisheva or Elizabeth in English.[15]
In Italian
[edit]Elisabetta is the Italian version of Elizabeth,[16] while Isabella is the Italian version of Elisheva.[17][18]
In the Muslim world
[edit]Alishba is a modern name that is believed to have been derived from an Arabic-language translation of Elisheva.[19] It is prevalent among Muslims in the Indian subcontinent.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Elisheva - Jewish & Hebrew Names - Kveller.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
- ^ "Elisheva". HebrewNamer. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Strong's Greek: 2241. ἠλί (éli) -- Eli". biblehub.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.