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Re: The name "ESAI"
in reply to a message by Nancy
A very uncommon name, it seems. Esai would seem to be a shortened form of Esaias, which is an older (in English) form of the Biblical prophet's name Isaiah. The abbreviation for the Book of Isaiah was often Esai. in older (16th-17th cent.) English texts.I didn't see the form Esai occurring in Spanish texts of the Bible, but might have missed it.- Da.
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Could it also be a variant of the name Esau? Wasn't that the name of Jacob'c brother? Just a thought. I really don't have a clue, they are just similar.SJ
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SJ,"Esau" was my first hunch as well, but Esau in the Spanish bible is "Esau". Another site suggested, without much conviction, that Esai might be a variant of Jesse. But Esai is not in Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary (the definitive work on Biblical names), and Jesse in the Spanish bible is "Jese".Three 16th century English bibles I referenced (love that 'Net!) use the name Esai (2) or Esay (1) for "Isaiah", so I'm pretty sure that's the derivation. How a Puerto Rican kid named Morales got the name is anyone's guess, but he WAS born in NYC...- Da.
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Thanks Davidh. Just had a hunch. Glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought that way. :)SJ
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Yes I also heard that the name means Isaiah. I've been looking for more confirmation on this, thanks for the info. Do you also know what the intended pronunciation is? I believe it is 'e-sigh' - any insight?
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Good question, how do you pronounce ESAI?
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I just asked the Esai Morales unofficial fan club web page and they say he pronounces it EE-SIGH.Oops -- and I named my Chihuahua puppy Esai but pronounced it EE-SAY. Too late now -- the dog knows his name.
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Interesting stuff....Thanks very much for your help!:-DNancy
(From downunder)
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