חֲקוּפָא
Chakupha, one of the Nethinim
Definition
Chakupha is the name of an individual listed among the Nethinim, a class of temple servants, in the post-exilic community. The name appears in the census records of those who returned from the Babylonian exile under Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:51) and is repeated in Nehemiah's parallel list (Nehemiah 7:53). As a proper noun, it refers solely to this specific person, with no other biblical meanings or applications. The name's etymology suggests a meaning like 'crooked' or 'bent,' but this descriptive origin does not alter its function as a personal identifier in these historical contexts.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively as a proper name for a male member of the Nethinim in two nearly identical administrative lists. It appears only in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which document the restoration of Judah. The usage is purely genealogical and census-related, serving to record the families who returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. There are no narrative or theological usages beyond this identification.
Etymology
The name Chakupha (חֲקוּפָא) is derived from an unused Hebrew root likely meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve,' giving it a sense of 'crooked.' It is a proper noun formed from this root, possibly describing a physical characteristic or serving as a symbolic name. As a personal name, its etymological meaning does not directly inform its biblical usage, which is simply as an identifier for an individual.
Semantic Range
As a name listed among the Nethinim (meaning 'given ones'), Chakupha belonged to a group of temple servants, likely descended from the Gibeonites (Joshua 9) or other groups assigned to assist the Levites. Their inclusion in the return lists (Ezra 2:51; Nehemiah 7:53) highlights that even supporting roles were vital to the restored worship community. The name itself, possibly meaning 'crooked,' reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of using descriptive terms for personal names, without the negative connotations it might carry today.
Nethinim (Nᵉthîynîym, H5411) — The class of temple servants to which Chakupha belonged, not a synonym for the name itself.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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