יָקִים
Jakim, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Yâqîym (יָקִים) is a proper noun meaning 'he will raise' or 'he will establish.' It is the name of two distinct Israelite men in the Old Testament. The first is Jakim, a descendant of Benjamin listed among the inhabitants of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:19). The second is Jakim, a priest who served in the twenty-third division of the temple service during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 24:12). In both cases, the name functions solely as a personal identifier, carrying the inherent meaning of its root but not conveying a distinct narrative role.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a personal name for two individuals in the genealogical and priestly records of 1 Chronicles. It appears in the context of tribal lineage (1 Chronicles 8:19) and in the organization of the priestly divisions (1 Chronicles 24:12). There are no narrative stories or dialogues associated with these characters; their mention serves to document ancestry and temple service order.
Etymology
Yâqîym is derived from the Hebrew root קוּם (qûm, H6965), meaning 'to arise,' 'to stand,' or 'to establish.' It is a hiphil imperfect verb form, literally translating to 'he will cause to arise' or 'he will establish.' It is a theophoric name, implicitly acknowledging God as the one who raises or establishes. It is a shortened form of the more common name יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehôyâqîym, H3079), meaning 'Yahweh will raise.'
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'he will raise,' it subtly points to the biblical theme of God as the one who establishes, exalts, and gives stability to His people. While the individuals named Jakim are not central figures, the name itself serves as a small testament to the faith of Israelite parents who named their children in acknowledgment of God's sovereign action. Understanding its meaning enriches the reading of genealogies, reminding us that these lists contain personal declarations of trust in God's power to establish a future.
In ancient Israel, names were often descriptive or expressed a hope or statement about God. Yâqîym, as a name declaring 'he will raise,' likely reflected parental hope for the child's future success or God's blessing upon the family line. Its use in both a tribal and a priestly context shows it was a recognized name among the people, though its shortened form may indicate it was a familiar or colloquial version of the longer Yehôyâqîym.
יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehôyâqîym, H3079) — The full, more formal version of the name, explicitly incorporating the divine name Yahweh (יהוה).
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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