3505. Yithri

Lexical Summary

Yithri: Yithri

Original Word: יִתְרִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Yithriy
Pronunciation: yith-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (yith-ree')
KJV: Ithrite
NASB: Ithrite, Ithrites
Word Origin: [patronymically from H3500 (יֶתֶר - Jether)]

1. a Jithrite or descendant of Jether

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ithrite

Patronymically from Yether; a Jithrite or descendant of Jether -- Ithrite.

see HEBREW Yether

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Yether
Definition
desc. of Jethro
NASB Translation
Ithrite (4), Ithrites (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

יִתְרִי adjective, of a people, always with article הַיִּתְרִי 2 Samuel 23:38, ᵐ5 Αιθειραιος, etc.; 2 Samuel 23:38, ᵐ5 Εθθεναιος, ᵐ5^L Ιεθεμ; read perhaps הַיַּתִּירִי Th Klo Kit Bu; = 1 Chronicles 11:40 (twice in verse), ᵐ5 Ηθηρει, Ιεθ(ε)ρι, etc.; collective 1 Chronicles 2:53, ᵐ5 Αιθαλειμ, ᵐ5^L Εθρι.

Topical Lexicon

Identity

The word יִתְרִי denotes an “Ithrite,” a member of a Judahite clan that traced its roots to Kiriath Jearim. It appears five times in the Old Testament and always functions as a clan or family designation.

Occurrences in Scripture

• 2 Samuel 23:38 – “Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:40 – “Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite.”
• 1 Chronicles 2:53 – “The clans of Kiriath Jearim were the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites.”

(The repeated appearances of the word within 2 Samuel 23:38 and 1 Chronicles 11:40 account for the total of five occurrences.)

Genealogical Setting

1 Chronicles 2:50–54 situates the Ithrites among the descendants of Caleb, the son of Hezron, in the tribe of Judah. Shobal, a son of Caleb, founded Kiriath Jearim, and from that town several sub-clans arose, including the Ithrites. This Judahite lineage explains how two Ithrites—Gareb and Ira—could rise naturally to prominence in the service of David, himself a Judahite.

Service among David’s Mighty Men

Both Ira and Gareb are listed in the roster of “the Thirty,” the elite warriors who formed the core of David’s military guard.

• Courage and loyalty: Their inclusion with legendary figures such as Benaiah and Abishai highlights their valor.
• Diversity within unity: The Thirty contained men from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and even foreign backgrounds (e.g., Uriah the Hittite). Ithrite participation illustrates the broad coalition God forged around David.
• Lasting honor: Though only named in the lists, Ira and Gareb are forever remembered as part of the king’s personal guard. Their obscurity by human standards contrasts with the permanence of their record in Scripture.

Historical Significance of the Clan

1. Strategic location. Kiriath Jearim stood on the border of Judah and Benjamin along a key north-south ridge route. During the period of the Judges the Ark of the Covenant rested there (1 Samuel 7:1–2), giving the surrounding clans—including the Ithrites—a heritage intertwined with Israel’s most sacred object.
2. Influence in administration. Clans provided the social framework of taxation, military conscription, and judicial matters. An Ithrite household therefore contributed directly to the stability of Judah during the united monarchy.
3. Continuity after exile. Although post-exilic lists do not mention Ithrites explicitly, the Chronicler’s preservation of their name testifies that God’s people regarded every family line—even the lesser known—as part of His unfolding plan.

Spiritual Insights

• Faithfulness where God places us. The Ithrites never headline biblical narratives, yet their steadfast service undergirds a godly kingdom. Likewise, believers advance God’s purposes through ordinary but devoted roles.
• Corporate identity in covenant life. Scripture’s attention to clans shows that redemption is both individual and communal. Each family, ministry team, and local church forms a thread in the tapestry of God’s redemptive history.
• God’s remembrance of hidden labor. The brief notices of Ira and Gareb assure servants who labor outside the spotlight that “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work” (Hebrews 6:10).

Ministry Application

Pastors and Bible teachers may call congregations to emulate the Ithrites by:

1. Embracing their heritage in Christ—valuing the local church family as the setting for lasting fruit.
2. Cultivating courage for spiritual battles—standing firm in truth even when recognition is minimal.
3. Honoring every member’s contribution—remembering that God chronicles unknown deeds with the same accuracy that He records the exploits of celebrated heroes.

Summary

The Ithrites represent a Judahite clan rooted in Kiriath Jearim, two of whose sons—Gareb and Ira—became renowned in David’s mighty men. Their modest biblical footprint magnifies themes of covenant faithfulness, communal identity, and God’s remembrance of those who serve Him in quiet dedication.

Forms and Transliterations

הַיִּתְרִ֔י הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ הַיִּתְרִי֙ היתרי היתרי׃ haiyitRi hay·yiṯ·rî hayyiṯrî

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 23:38
HEB: עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃
NAS: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
INT: Ira the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

2 Samuel 23:38
HEB: הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס
NAS: the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
INT: the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

1 Chronicles 2:53
HEB: קִרְיַ֣ת יְעָרִ֔ים הַיִּתְרִי֙ וְהַפּוּתִ֔י וְהַשֻּׁמָתִ֖י
NAS: of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites,
KJV: of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites,
INT: and the families of Kiriath-jearim the Ithrites the Puthites the Shumathites

1 Chronicles 11:40
HEB: עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃
NAS: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
INT: Ira the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

1 Chronicles 11:40
HEB: הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס
NAS: the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
INT: the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3505
5 Occurrences

hay·yiṯ·rî — 5 Occ.