Yiskah
/ˈjɪs.kə/noun
A biblical feminine name appearing in Genesis 11:29, traditionally understood as meaning “one who looks forth.”
Did you know?In Genesis Rabbah, Yiskah is identified with Sarah because she was believed to possess prophetic vision—turning an obscure name into a symbol of spiritual sight.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
יִסְכָּה (Yiskāh)
“A feminine personal name in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally connected with seeing or looking forth”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Aramaic
סקא / Yiskā
“A name interpreted in Jewish commentary as referring to one who sees or gazes prophetically”
4th–5th Century CE
Rabbinic Hebrew
יִסְכָּה
“In Genesis Rabbah, identified with Sarah because she possessed prophetic sight”
4th Century CE
Greek
Ἰεσχά (Ieschā)
“A Greek-script rendering of the biblical name in ancient biblical transmission”
16th Century
English
Jessica
“A form popularized by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, possibly inspired by the biblical Iscah, though the connection is not certain”
Modern English
English
Yiskah
“A modern transliteration of the biblical Hebrew name”