תְּקוֹעִי
a Tekoite or inhabitant of Tekoah
Definition
The Hebrew word תְּקוֹעִי (Tᵉqôwʻîy) refers to a person from the town of Tekoah, meaning 'a Tekoite' or 'inhabitant of Tekoah.' It is used exclusively as a gentilic noun to identify individuals by their hometown. In the Old Testament, it specifically denotes residents or natives of Tekoah, a town in Judah known for its wise woman (2 Samuel 14:2) and as the home of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1). The term appears in narratives about David's reign and in the post-exilic rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
Biblical Usage
This word is used seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in historical books. It identifies individuals in military and civic contexts: Ira son of Ikkesh is listed among David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:26, 1 Chronicles 11:28), and a Tekoite named Ammizabad served as a commander (1 Chronicles 27:9). Most notably, a 'wise woman from Tekoah' plays a key role in reconciling David and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:4, 14:9). In Nehemiah, Tekoites are mentioned as builders of Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 3:5, 3:27), showing their continued community identity after the exile.
Etymology
The word is a patronymic or gentilic formation derived from the place name תְּקוֹעַ (Tᵉqôwaʻ, Strong's H8620), meaning 'Tekoah.' It follows a common Hebrew pattern where the suffix -ִי (-iy) is added to a place name to indicate origin or belonging, similar to words like 'Yehudi' (Jew, from Judah). The root may relate to the verb תָּקַע (taqaʻ), meaning 'to blow' or 'to thrust,' possibly referring to the town's location or a founding event.
Semantic Range
While primarily a geographical identifier, the Tekoites illustrate God's use of people from obscure places for His purposes. The wise woman from Tekoah (2 Samuel 14) demonstrates how God can use unexpected individuals—even a non-royal, rural woman—to convey truth and facilitate reconciliation, foreshadowing themes of wisdom and redemption. Their mention in Nehemiah highlights the faithfulness of a small town community in rebuilding Jerusalem, emphasizing collective participation in God's restorative work.
In ancient Israel, identity was closely tied to one's town or region. Being called a 'Tekoite' signified belonging to Tekoah, a town in the Judean hills about 10 miles south of Jerusalem, known for its olive orchards and pastoral lands. This designation carried social weight, indicating one's heritage, community, and possibly reputation—Tekoah was associated with wisdom (via the wise woman) and prophecy (via Amos). Unlike modern surnames, such gentilics were functional labels used in official records and storytelling to locate individuals within Israel's tribal geography.
יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Judean or Jew, from the tribe/region of Judah; יִשְׂרְאֵלִי (Yisrᵉʼêlîy, H3478) — an Israelite, from the nation of Israel; both are gentilics but from larger regions.
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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