יָקֶה
Jakeh, a symbolical name (for Solomon)
Definition
Yaqeh (יָקֶה) is a proper noun appearing only once in the Old Testament as the name of the father of Agur, the author of Proverbs 30. It is traditionally understood as a symbolic name, likely meaning 'obedient' or 'pious.' Many Jewish and Christian interpreters, following rabbinic tradition, have seen 'Yaqeh' as an epithet or cryptic reference to King Solomon, suggesting the wisdom sayings in Proverbs 30 are attributed to him under this symbolic name. The primary context for this name is its solitary appearance in the superscription of Proverbs 30:1, which reads, 'The words of Agur son of Yaqeh.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used only one time in the entire Old Testament, in Proverbs 30:1. It functions exclusively as a proper name within the introductory title of a wisdom collection. Its usage is entirely titular, identifying the lineage of the sage Agur. There are no other contextual uses or patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
The name Yaqeh is derived from an unused Hebrew root, likely יָקָה (yāqâ), which probably carries the sense of 'to obey' or 'to be obedient.' This etymological suggestion points to a meaning like 'the obedient one' or 'the pious one.' It is a symbolic or descriptive name rather than a common personal name, which aligns with its proposed use as an epithet for a figure known for wisdom and piety, such as Solomon.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a single-use proper name, its potential identification as a symbolic name for Solomon connects it to the broader theological theme of divine wisdom. Solomon is the archetypal wise king in Israel's tradition, to whom much of the Book of Proverbs is attributed. Understanding 'Yaqeh' as a reference to Solomon enriches the reading of Proverbs 30 by framing Agur's words as part of the Solomonic wisdom corpus, emphasizing that true wisdom, even when presented through different voices (like Agur), is ultimately rooted in the fear of the Lord, a central theme of Solomon's teachings (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10).
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning and described character or destiny. A symbolic name like Yaqeh ('the obedient one') used in a wisdom context would immediately signal the virtue of the person it describes. The practice of using symbolic names or epithets, especially in wisdom literature, was a way to convey key attributes without using a more common personal name, inviting the reader to contemplate the quality (obedience/piety) embodied by the figure.
Shelomoh (שְׁלֹמֹה, H8010) — The primary name for King Solomon, to whom Yaqeh may be an epithet. Lemu'el (לְמוּאֵל, H3927) — Another symbolic name (meaning 'devoted to God') used for a king in a Proverbs superscription (Proverbs 31:1).
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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