יְקוּתִיאֵל

Jekuthiel, an Israelite

Definition

Yᵉqûwthîyʼêl (Jekuthiel) is a proper masculine name meaning 'obedience of God' or 'God will nourish.' It appears only once in the Old Testament as the name of a son of Mered from the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:18). The name signifies a theological hope or declaration, likely reflecting the parents' prayer that the child would live in obedience to God or be sustained by Him. As a single-occurrence name, it carries the specific meaning derived from its etymology without developing additional contextual senses.

Biblical Usage

This name is used exactly once in the entire Old Testament, in a genealogical list within 1 Chronicles 4:18. It occurs in the context of chronicling the descendants of Judah, specifically within the lineage of Mered. There are no patterns of usage across different books or narrative contexts, as it is solely a personal identifier in a genealogy.

Etymology

The name יְקוּתִיאֵל (Yᵉqûwthîyʼêl) is a compound derived from two elements. The first part likely comes from a root related to H3348 (יָקֶה, yâqeh), meaning 'obedience' or possibly from a root meaning 'to nourish.' The second part is H410 (אֵל, ʼêl), the common noun for 'God.' Thus, the name synthetically means 'obedience of God' or 'God will nourish,' expressing a relationship of dependence or fidelity to the divine.

Semantic Range

While a single-occurrence personal name, Jekuthiel embodies a significant theological concept: the integration of human obedience with divine sustenance. It reflects the Israelite practice of embedding faith declarations into identity, reminding readers that individuals in God's story are often marked by names pointing to His character or desired relationship. Understanding this Hebrew name enriches reading by highlighting how even genealogical lists can carry theological weight, affirming that obedience and divine care are central to the covenant community's identity.

In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or theophoric (containing God's name), serving as a verbal monument to a family's faith or circumstances. A name like Jekuthiel, likely given at birth, expressed the parents' hope for their son's character and relationship with God. This differs from modern naming conventions, which may prioritize aesthetics or family tradition over literal meaning.

Other theophoric names with אֵל (ʼêl): - יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — 'God strives' or 'he strives with God,' the national name. - דָּנִיֵּאל (Dânîyʼêl, H1840) — 'God is my judge,' a prophetic name. - עֲזַרְאֵל (ʻAzarʼêl, H5832) — 'God has helped,' another name in Chronicles.

Word Details

Scripture References