אישׁ, אושׁ (Stem assumed in Thes for אִישׁ; existence & meaning somewhat dubious Thes (Add) & most derive אִישׁ from [אִנְשְׁ] √ אנשׁ (q. v.) In favour are plural אֲנָשִׁים, feminine אִשָּׁה = [אִנְשָׁה], lack of proven √ אישׁ, & lack of clear parallels for אישׁ in cognate languages. Against the derivation of אִישׁ from inš is the vocalization (ִ י, and that fully written, not ֵ), maintained even with suffixes, the (rare) plural אִישִׁים, the impossibility of deriving אִישׁ & אִשָּׁה from same √ (אִשָּׁה from ), the existence of אֱנוֺשׁ as parallel form, and the (exceptional) parallel Aramaic איש (Inscription of Carpentras), also Arabic (compare Frey) || ; MI, SI, Phoenician אש are not decisive; Sabean has both אסם & אנסם; the former apparently = אִישׁ, the latter אֱנוֺשׁ; but on former compare DHMZK 1884, 360 & SabDenkm37. On the whole, probability seems to favour √ אישׁ; Thes gave meaning be strong; DlHA 9, Pr 161 compare Assyrian išanu, strong (compare Dlw. p. 244), & proper name יְהוֺאָשׁ; compare also PrätLOPh Feb. 1884; otherwise DHMl. e. & ZMG 1883, 330 & especially NöZMG 1886, 739 LagBN 68; compare also Wetzst in DePsalmen, ed. 4, p. 888 and others see also אנשׁ, אֱנוֺשׁ).
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
License: Public domain document; formatting developed for use in https://marvel.bible by Eliran Wong.
Source: provided by Tim Morton, the developer of Bible Analyzer