יַעֲקֹבָה

Jaakobah, an Israelite

Definition

Jaakobah is a proper name of a Simeonite leader mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 4:36. As a personal name, it is a variant form of the more common name Jacob (יַעֲקֹב, H3290), meaning 'he supplants' or 'he grasps the heel.' The name identifies a specific individual within the tribe of Simeon who lived during the time of King Hezekiah. Its single biblical occurrence serves to document a member of the Israelite community during the period of the monarchy.

Biblical Usage

This name is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:36. It appears in a list of Simeonite leaders and princes who expanded their territory during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. The context is purely genealogical and historical, recording the names of prominent clan members.

Etymology

The name יַעֲקֹבָה (Yaʻăqôbâh) is a feminine-looking form derived directly from the patriarch Jacob's name, יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290). The addition of the '-ah' ending (ה) is a common Hebrew nominal suffix. It shares the same root meaning, related to the verb עָקַב ('āqab, H6117), meaning 'to supplant,' 'to seize by the heel,' or 'to circumvent.'

Semantic Range

In ancient Israelite culture, names were significant and often expressed a hope, characteristic, or circumstance. Jaakobah, as a variant of Jacob, connects its bearer to the legacy of the patriarch. Its use in a Simeonite genealogy during Hezekiah's reign highlights the ongoing importance of tribal identity and lineage records in post-exilic Israel, as the Chronicler sought to re-establish connections to the nation's past.

יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — The foundational patriarch's name from which Jaakobah is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References