Rabbinic Interpretation of the Hebrew Word 'Ish and its Meaning as Either Male or Adult

What is it about?

The possibility that 'Ish' may mean "man," denoting the male sex, or "mankind," including men and women, renders any biblical passage ambiguous unless 'Ish is contrasted with 'Ishah, a woman, or refers to someone male. How then shall we understand a verse like "If one strikes an 'ish" (E 21:12)? Does it mean "One who strikes a male, so that he dies, shall surely be put to death," or "One who strikes a person, so that he (or she) dies, shall surely be put to death"? This study shows how therabbinic interpreters of the Pentateuch answered this question.

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Why is it important?

Feminism has impacted the way many denominations have begun to tranlate the Bible . Many have chosen to use as much egalitarian language as possible. It is interesting, therefore, to see how the Rabbis of late antiquity sometimes interpreted the Hebrew term 'ish, which usually means "male," as "adult," whether male or female. Often tabbinic interpetation tailors Scripture to fit rabbinic legislation rather than drawing that legislation from the plain meaning of the text. In such cases, interpretation of words or phrases can be somewhat arbitrary as long as the interpreatation support the rule or rules establishe by the Rabbis. This is not the case where they interpret 'ish. Rather, the rules for determining whether 'ish means "male" or "adult person" are set.Therefore, one can tell in advance what the rabbinic interpretation of tis word will be depending on the formulation of the verse inwhich it appears.

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