Ishmaiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ishmaiah was a leader of the tribe of Zebulun during the reign of King David. He is identified in Scripture as “Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah,” and he appears in the list of those who served King David as officials over the tribes of Israel. This listing is found in 1 Chronicles 27, where the chronicler records the men appointed to oversee the various tribes during David’s administration. Ishmaiah’s specific assignment was to Zebulun, one of the northern tribes descended from Jacob’s son of the same name.
The setting of this passage is the organized kingdom of Israel under David’s rule. First Chronicles 27 describes a structured system of leadership, including military divisions, tribal officers, and overseers of the king’s property. Ishmaiah belongs to the group of tribal leaders—men entrusted with representing and managing the affairs of their respective tribes under the king’s authority. His inclusion in this record shows that he held a position of recognized responsibility among the people of Zebulun.
Scripture says nothing further about Ishmaiah beyond this single mention. We are not told of any particular deed, battle, or accomplishment. What we know is simply that he was a man trusted with leadership over his tribe in a time when Israel was being organized and strengthened as a nation. His name appears once in the King James Bible, in the genealogy-like roster of David’s officials, standing as a quiet witness to faithful service in an administrative role. His father, Obadiah, is named alongside him, but no other details of his life or family are given.
The Name
The name Ishmaiah is a Hebrew name that appears to mean “Yahweh hears” or “the LORD hears,” built from the elements *shama* (“to hear”) and the divine name *Yah*. This meaning is generally regarded as well established among Hebrew name studies, since the components are common in biblical names and the construction follows familiar patterns. The related name “Ishmael” shares the same root idea of God hearing. While the precise nuance can vary slightly in transliteration and interpretation, the core sense of the name—that the LORD hears—is widely accepted and not a matter of invention.
A Closing Thought
Ishmaiah never speaks a word in Scripture, performs no miracle, and wins no battle we can read about. He simply appears once, named as a leader who served faithfully in his place. That is a quiet encouragement to those of us whose lives feel unremarkable. God’s Word remembers the faithful, even when the world does not. Ishmaiah’s name means “the LORD hears,” and perhaps that is fitting: the God who hears also remembers. Whether our service is seen by many or by few, it is never unseen by Him.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 27:19 — Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel: