Where does “Ishmael” come from?
Ishmael comes from Hebrew יִשְׁמָעֵאל, composed of Hebrew יִשְׁמַע meaning "he will hear" and אֵל meaning "God."
Ishmael (English): The eldest son of Abraham and his wife's handmaiden Hagar who were cast out after the birth of Isaac; traditionally the ancestor of the Arabs via the Ishmaelites
Definitions
- The eldest son of Abraham and his wife's handmaiden Hagar who were cast out after the birth of Isaac; traditionally the ancestor of the Arabs via the Ishmaelites
Ancestry of “Ishmael”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew | יִשְׁמָעֵאל | God hears, God will hear |
| 2 | Hebrew | יִשְׁמַע | — |
| 3 | Hebrew | אֵל | a God; God, deity; god, God |
| 4 | Hebrew | שמואל | — |
| 5 | Hebrew | שְׁמוּאֵל | — |