476. Elishama
Lexical Summary
Elishama: Elishama

Original Word: אֱלִישָׁמָע
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Eliyshama`
Pronunciation: eh-lee-shaw-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (el-ee-shaw-maw')
KJV: Elishama
NASB: Elishama
Word Origin: [from H410 (אֵל - God) and H8085 (שָׁמַע - heard)]

1. God of hearing
2. Elishama, the name of seven Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Elishama

From 'el and shama'; God of hearing; Elishama, the name of seven Israelites -- Elishama.

see HEBREW 'el

see HEBREW shama'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from el and shama
Definition
"God has heard," the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Elishama (17).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֱלִישָׁמָע (God has heard, compare יִשְׁמָעֵאל, & Sabean אלסמע, יסמעאל Hal187, 193)

a. chief of Ephraim Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:18; Numbers 7:48,53; Numbers 10:22; 1 Chronicles 7:26.

b. son of David 2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:6,8; 1 Chronicles 14:7.

c. scribe of Jehoiakim Jeremiah 36:12,20,21.

d. one of the royal seed 2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1.

e. a man of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:41. feminine a priest2Chronicles 17:8.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Theological Emphasis

Elishama, “God has heard,” signals trust in the covenant LORD who attends to the cries of His people. Every appearance of the name is bound to moments when God’s word, covenant promises, or royal purposes come to the foreground, making each Elishama a reminder that divine attentiveness undergirds Israel’s history.

Leader of Ephraim in the Wilderness (Numbers 1:10; 2:18; 7:48, 53; 10:22)

Elishama son of Ammihud served as chief of the tribe of Ephraim during the Exodus generation. He:
• Assisted Moses and Aaron in the initial census (Numbers 1:10).
• Camped on the west side of the tabernacle under the standard of Ephraim (Numbers 2:18).
• Brought the tribe’s dedication offering on the seventh day (Numbers 7:48-53).
• Directed Ephraim’s battalion as Israel broke camp (Numbers 10:22).

Through him the tribe descended from Joseph took its place in worship, war, and wilderness order—an anticipation of Ephraim’s later leadership role in Israel’s northern kingdom.

Royal Sons of David (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:6, 8; 14:7)

David named two of his Jerusalem-born sons Elishama, underlining the king’s conviction that “God has heard” his petitions for a secure dynasty. The duplication may point to the death of an earlier child or a desire to preserve the name’s testimony within the royal household. Though neither Elishama became king, their inclusion in the messianic genealogy (1 Chronicles 3) threads the promise of 2 Samuel 7 through successive generations until it is finally fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Judahite Branch through Sheshan (1 Chronicles 2:41)

A more obscure Elishama arises in the clan of Jerahmeel, where Sheshan—having no sons—gave his daughter in marriage to an Egyptian servant, Jarha. Their son Elishama perpetuated the line, demonstrating that the Lord hears even marginalized families and grafts them into Judah’s heritage, preserving the tribe until the birth of its ultimate Lion.

Ancestor of Joshua (1 Chronicles 7:26)

Within the Ephraimite genealogy another Elishama appears as son of Ammihud and father of Nun, making him grandfather to Joshua. The progression “Elishama … Nun … Joshua” shows that the same family once led the wilderness encampment (Numbers) and later guided the conquest. God “heard” the yearning for rest in the land and answered through this lineage.

Teacher in Jehoshaphat’s Reformation (2 Chronicles 17:8)

During Jehoshaphat’s reign select officials, Levites, and priests circulated “throughout Judah … teaching the Book of the Law of the LORD” (verse 9). Elishama is named among them, embodying the truth that God hears a nation’s need for doctrinal renewal. His itinerant ministry fostered covenant fidelity at a pivotal juncture before the looming Assyrian threat.

Royal Secretary under Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:12, 20-21)

Centuries later, an Elishama served as court scribe. Baruch’s reading of Jeremiah’s scroll occurred in “the chamber of Elishama the scribe” (Jeremiah 36:12). When officials reported the contents, the scroll was secured “in the chamber of Elishama the scribe” (verse 20), yet Jehoiakim defiantly burned it (verse 23). The episode contrasts the faithfulness of the prophetic word with royal apostasy. Elishama’s office preserved the scroll long enough for its testimony to indict the king, illustrating again that God hears and records every deed.

Ancestor of Ishmael the Assassin (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1)

“Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family,” murdered Gedaliah after Jerusalem’s fall. Whether this Elishama is the same as David’s son or a later descendant, the text stresses royal blood. The tragedy affirms that divine hearing includes judgment: covenant-breaking does not escape the ear of the LORD.

Interwoven Themes

1. Leadership: from tribal prince to royal sons and scribes, Elishamas occupy positions of influence.
2. Transmission of revelation: census duties, teaching tours, and scribal chambers each safeguard God’s word among His people.
3. Continuity of promise: the name threads through Joseph’s and Judah’s lines, stitching wilderness, monarchy, exile, and post-exile eras into one redemptive tapestry.

Devotional Reflection

Whenever Elishama surfaces, the storyline pivots on God hearing—ordering camp, sustaining dynasty, preserving Scripture, or exposing sin. The repeated testimony invites believers to trust that the same Lord still listens, governs, and redeems according to His unfailing word.

Forms and Transliterations
אֱלִ֨ישָׁמָ֜ע אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע אֱלִישָׁמָֽע׃ אלישמע אלישמע׃ וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֧ע ואלישמע ’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘ ’ĕlîšāmā‘ elishaMa veelishaMa we’ĕlîšāmā‘ we·’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 1:10
HEB: יוֹסֵ֔ף לְאֶפְרַ֕יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיה֑וּד
NAS: of Ephraim, Elishama the son
KJV: of Ephraim; Elishama the son
INT: of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammihud

Numbers 2:18
HEB: לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיהֽוּד׃
NAS: of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama the son
KJV: of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama the son
INT: of the sons of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammihud

Numbers 7:48
HEB: לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרָ֑יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיהֽוּד׃
NAS: day [it was] Elishama the son
KJV: day Elishama the son
INT: the son of Ephraim Elishama of the sons of Ammihud

Numbers 7:53
HEB: זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיהֽוּד׃
NAS: [was] the offering of Elishama the son
KJV: this [was] the offering of Elishama the son
INT: This the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud

Numbers 10:22
HEB: וְעַל־ צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיהֽוּד׃
NAS: was set out, with Elishama the son
KJV: and over his host [was] Elishama the son
INT: over army Elishama the son of Ammihud

2 Samuel 5:16
HEB: וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֖ע וֶאֱלִיפָֽלֶט׃
NAS: Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
KJV: And Elishama, and Eliada,
INT: Elishama Eliada and Eliphelet

2 Kings 25:25
HEB: נְ֠תַנְיָה בֶּן־ אֱלִ֨ישָׁמָ֜ע מִזֶּ֣רַע הַמְּלוּכָ֗ה
NAS: the son of Elishama, of the royal
KJV: the son of Elishama, of the seed
INT: of Nethaniah the son of Elishama family of the royal

1 Chronicles 2:41
HEB: הֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ אֱלִישָׁמָֽע׃
NAS: became the father of Elishama.
KJV: and Jekamiah begat Elishama.
INT: and Jekamiah the father of Elishama

1 Chronicles 3:6
HEB: וְיִבְחָ֥ר וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע וֶאֱלִיפָֽלֶט׃
NAS: and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet,
KJV: Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
INT: and Ibhar Elishama Eliphelet

1 Chronicles 3:8
HEB: וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֧ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֛ע וֶאֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט
NAS: Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet,
KJV: And Elishama, and Eliada,
INT: Elishama Eliada and Eliphelet

1 Chronicles 7:26
HEB: עַמִּיה֥וּד בְּנ֖וֹ אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע בְּנֽוֹ׃
NAS: Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
KJV: Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
INT: Ammihud his son Elishama his son

1 Chronicles 14:7
HEB: וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וּבְעֶלְיָדָ֖ע וֶאֱלִיפָֽלֶט׃
NAS: Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.
KJV: And Elishama, and Beeliada,
INT: Elishama Beeliada and Eliphelet

2 Chronicles 17:8
HEB: הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וְעִמָּהֶ֛ם אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וִֽיהוֹרָ֖ם הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃
NAS: the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram,
KJV: Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram,
INT: the Levites them Elishama and Jehoram the priests

Jeremiah 36:12
HEB: הַשָּׂרִ֖ים יֽוֹשְׁבִ֑ים אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וּדְלָיָ֣הוּ
NAS: there-- Elishama the scribe,
KJV: sat there, [even] Elishama the scribe,
INT: the officials were sitting there Elishama the scribe and Delaiah

Jeremiah 36:20
HEB: הִפְקִ֔דוּ בְּלִשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיַּגִּ֙ידוּ֙
NAS: in the chamber of Elishama the scribe,
KJV: in the chamber of Elishama the scribe,
INT: had deposited the chamber of Elishama the scribe and told

Jeremiah 36:21
HEB: וַיִּ֨קָּחֶ֔הָ מִלִּשְׁכַּ֖ת אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וַיִּקְרָאֶ֤הָ
NAS: it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe.
KJV: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's
INT: took of the chamber of Elishama the scribe's read

Jeremiah 41:1
HEB: נְתַנְיָ֣ה בֶן־ אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע מִזֶּ֣רַע הַ֠מְּלוּכָה
NAS: the son of Elishama, of the royal
KJV: the son of Elishama, of the seed
INT: of Nethaniah the son of Elishama family of the royal

17 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 476
17 Occurrences


’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘ — 13 Occ.
we·’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘ — 4 Occ.

475
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