Issachar

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: From Hebrew Yiśśāḵār, linked to “wages/hire” (Gen 30:18), reflecting Leah’s naming explanation.
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period
• Main References: Genesis 30:14–18; 35:23; 46:13; 49:14–15; Numbers 1:28–31; 26:23–25; Deuteronomy 33:18–19; 1 Chronicles 7:1–5; 12:32
• Key Connections: Son of Jacob and Leah; brother of the other patriarchs’ sons; ancestor of the tribe of Issachar within Israel.

Who was Issachar?

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth born to Leah (Gen 30:18; 35:23).
His birth narrative is tied to Leah’s statement about “wages,” which shaped his name (Gen 30:18).
He appears in the patriarchal genealogies as one of the founding sons of Israel and as the head of a tribal lineage (Gen 46:13; Num 26:23–25).
Jacob’s blessing portrays Issachar with imagery of strength and settled labor within the land (Gen 49:14–15).

Key Events & Achievements

• Event 1: Named by Leah in the context of the “hire/wages” saying at his birth (Genesis 30:14–18).
• Event 2: Listed among Jacob’s sons who became the family of Israel in Egypt, with his sons named as clan ancestors (Genesis 46:13).
• Event 3: Counted as a distinct tribe in the wilderness censuses, indicating its recognized place among Israel’s tribes (Numbers 1:28–31; 26:23–25).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Issachar’s story highlights how individual family lines in the Patriarchal Period became organized tribal identities within Israel’s covenant people.

Key Verse

"Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds." — Genesis 49:14, ESV