Issachar
Name Origin & Meaning
Combining 'yesh' (there is) and 'sachar' (reward, wage). Leah declared God had given her 'my hire.' The tribe of Issachar was known for wisdom in discerning the times — 'men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do' (1 Chronicles 12:32) — making their reward the precious gift of prophetic insight.
First Biblical Appearance
“And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.”
Leah names her fifth son as a testimony that God rewarded her generosity.
Biblical Significance
Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and fifth of Leah. Jacob's blessing compared him to a strong donkey willing to shoulder hard labor. The men of Issachar who joined David at Hebron were famous for 'understanding the times' — spiritual discernment that made them invaluable counselors in the transfer of kingship from Saul to David.
Notable Bearers
- Issachar son of Jacob
Personality & Character
Master teacher — the highest master number of divine compassion, healing, and holy instruction
Spiritual symbolism drawn from Scripture and tradition
Modern Variants
A Blessing for This Name
May you be among those who understand the times and know what God's people ought to do. May your labor be rewarded openly, and may your burden become the ground from which your greatest harvest springs.