Ishod is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ishod was a descendant of Manasseh, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe of Manasseh recorded in 1 Chronicles. He appears in a brief genealogical notice that names him as a son of Hammoleketh, the sister of certain men of Manasseh. The passage reads, “And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah” (1 Chronicles 7:18). This places Ishod within the extended family record of Manasseh, one of the two sons of Joseph and the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel.
The setting of the verse is the larger genealogical survey in 1 Chronicles 7, which traces the descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. These lists served to document tribal identity and inheritance within Israel, particularly after the return from exile, when the Chronicler was concerned to show the continuity of the people of God. Ishod’s name appears in a section focused on the descendants of Manasseh, specifically within a branch connected to Hammoleketh, whose name means “the queen” or is otherwise associated with royalty in some readings.
Scripture records nothing further about Ishod. He is not described as a warrior, a leader, or a prophet. He did nothing notable that the text preserves. He is simply named as one born into the line of Manasseh, and his inclusion in the genealogy is the whole of his biblical witness. What Scripture says of him is limited to his name, his mother, and his brothers Abiezer and Mahalah.
The Name
The Hebrew name Ishod (אִישׁוֹד) is not clearly recoverable in meaning, and its etymology is uncertain. Some suggest it may derive from elements meaning “man” (ish) and perhaps “splendor” or “majesty” (hod), which could yield something like “man of splendor” or “man of majesty.” However, this is not firmly established, and the name is unique in Scripture, appearing only here. Because the meaning is not clearly recoverable, it is best to say so plainly rather than to assign a confident definition.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a genealogy, let alone in the pages of Scripture. Ishod’s entire legacy is a single verse: he was born, he was named, he belonged to a family and a tribe. Yet that is not nothing. In God’s economy, being counted among his people is the deepest identity any person can have. Ishod did not need to do great things to be included in the record of Israel. He was simply there, a link in the chain of grace. And for most of us, that is enough.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:18 — And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.