יְכׇלְיָה
Jekoljah or Jekiljah, an Israelitess
Definition
Yᵉkolyâh is the name of the mother of King Uzziah (also called Azariah) of Judah. She is mentioned in the royal genealogies of 2 Kings 15:2 and 2 Chronicles 26:3, where she is identified as being from Jerusalem. As a proper noun, it refers solely to this historical Israelite woman. The name itself carries a significant meaning, translating to 'Yahweh is able' or 'Yahweh will enable,' which reflects a statement of faith in God's power.
Biblical Usage
This name is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the context of listing the lineage of King Uzziah. In 2 Kings 15:2, she is called 'Jecholiah of Jerusalem.' In 2 Chronicles 26:3, the parallel passage uses a slight variant spelling, 'Jecoliah,' but refers to the same person. Its usage is strictly genealogical, serving to establish the king's maternal heritage from Jerusalem.
Etymology
The name Yᵉkolyâh is a compound of two Hebrew elements. It derives from the verb יָכֹל (yāḵōl, H3201), meaning 'to be able, to prevail,' and the divine name יָהּ (Yāh, H3050), a shortened form of Yahweh. Thus, the name is a theophoric construction meaning 'Yahweh is able' or 'Yahweh will enable.' The variant יְכׇלְיָהוּ (Yᵉkolyâhû) found in some texts uses the full form of the divine name.
Semantic Range
While the person Jekoliah is not a major theological figure, her name is a compact confession of faith in God's capability and sovereignty. It subtly reinforces the biblical theme that God empowers His chosen leaders and people. For the reader, understanding the meaning of the name adds a layer of depth to the genealogical record, turning a simple listing into a testimony of trust in Yahweh's enabling power for the reign of her son, Uzziah.
As the mother of a king, Jekoliah held a position of honor in Judah's royal court. Her identification as being 'from Jerusalem' (2 Kings 15:2) may indicate she was from a prominent Jerusalemite family, which would have been politically significant for consolidating the king's legitimacy and connection to the capital city. Naming children with theophoric elements (containing God's name) was a common practice, reflecting personal or familial piety.
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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