Ishiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ishiah was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, named in the genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles. He appears in the line of Uzzi, within the broader family record of the Benjamites. The passage lists the sons of Uzzi’s son Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah. Scripture adds the summary note that these were “five: all of them chief men,” counting Izrahiah himself among the number.
The setting of this mention is a genealogy—a family record preserved among the returned exiles to document tribal lineage and standing. Ishiah does not appear in any narrative; no action, speech, or event is attributed to him. He is known only as one of the sons of Izrahiah and as one of the chief men of his father’s house.
What Scripture says of him is brief but honorable: he is numbered among the “chief men” of his family line. In the context of 1 Chronicles, such designations carried weight, since the genealogies established inheritance, service, and identity for the community. Ishiah’s inclusion means his name was preserved as part of Benjamin’s legitimate lineage, a recognized member of a leading family within the tribe.
The Name
The name Ishiah appears to be a Hebrew name built from elements meaning “man” and the divine name—commonly understood along the lines of “Yahweh is a man” or “man of Yahweh.” Because the name occurs only once in the King James Bible and its exact vocalization and derivation are not entirely certain, the meaning is not firmly established. What can be said is that it is a theophoric name, carrying a reference to God, as many Hebrew names do.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a chronicle. Ishiah’s entire legacy in Scripture is one line in a list—yet that line calls him a “chief man” among his people. There is quiet comfort here. God’s record is not measured by how much space we occupy in the story, but by faithfulness in the place He assigns us. Ishiah served his family and tribe in his generation, and his name was kept. Whatever our portion, it is enough to be found faithful where God has set us.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:3 — And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.