תֹּכֶן

Token, a place in Palestine

Definition

Tochen (תֹּכֶן) is a proper noun referring to a specific place in ancient Palestine. It is mentioned only once in the Old Testament as one of the settlements belonging to the tribe of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:32). The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun meaning 'measure' or 'proportion' (H8506), which may suggest the location was known for being a measured or allotted portion of land. As a place name, its primary significance is geographical, identifying a town within the tribal inheritance.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively as a place name in a single genealogical and geographical list. It appears in 1 Chronicles 4:32 within a record of the towns where the families of the tribe of Simeon lived. The context is a historical inventory of settlements, indicating Tochen was a recognized location during the time the chronicler compiled this record.

Etymology

The word תֹּכֶן (Tochen) as a place name is derived directly from the identical common noun תֹּכֶן (token, H8506), which means 'measure,' 'weight,' or 'proportion.' This suggests the place was likely named for its function or character, perhaps as a standard or measured portion of territory. It shares a root with verbs related to weighing or measuring.

Semantic Range

As a place name listed among Simeon's towns, Tochen represents the tangible fulfillment of God's promise to allot the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel. Its inclusion in a tribal list underscores the importance of land inheritance and tribal identity in ancient Israelite society. The name's connection to 'measure' may reflect the practice of apportioning land by lot or measurement.

None directly applicable as synonyms for a proper place name. For the related common noun meaning: תֹּכֶן (token, H8506) — the common noun for 'measure' or 'proportion' from which the place name is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References