יַעְכָּן
Jakan, an Israelite
Definition
יַעְכָּן (Yaʻkân) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite named Jakan, who appears only once in the Old Testament. He is listed as a descendant of Gad in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 5:13. The name itself means 'troublesome' or 'one who troubles,' derived from the same root as the name Achan (עָכָן), who caused trouble for Israel in Joshua 7. As a genealogical entry, Jakan represents one of the many heads of families within the tribe of Gad who lived in the Transjordan region.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 5:13. Its usage is strictly genealogical, appearing in a list of the descendants of Gad who settled in the land of Bashan. The context is a record of tribal lineage and settlement, typical of the Chronicler's focus on Israel's identity and heritage. No other patterns or contextual variations exist, as it is a single-occurrence personal name.
Etymology
The name יַעְכָּן (Yaʻkân) is derived from the same root as H5912 עָכָן (ʻÂkân), meaning 'to trouble' or 'bring trouble.' It is a proper noun formed with a prefixed י (yod), a common element in Hebrew names. The root עכ"ן (ʻ-k-n) conveys the sense of disturbance or causing difficulty. Cognates or related forms are sparse, but the name directly connects to the thematic idea of trouble seen in the narrative of Achan in Joshua 7.
Semantic Range
While the name Jakan itself is not theologically central, its etymological link to 'trouble' (עָכָן) subtly connects to the broader biblical theme of sin's consequences for the community, as vividly illustrated in Joshua 7. Its inclusion in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 5 underscores the value Scripture places on every individual within God's covenant people, preserving even minor names to affirm Israel's tribal identity and God's faithfulness to His promises across generations.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning, reflecting character, destiny, or circumstances. A name meaning 'troublesome' might have been given to memorialize a difficult event at birth or to invoke a protective quality. As a genealogical entry, Jakan's name served to establish lineage and tribal belonging, which were crucial for land inheritance, social identity, and religious participation within the covenant community.
עָכָן (ʻÂkân, H5912) — The personal name Achan, directly sharing the same root meaning 'trouble'; Jakan is a variant form.
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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