יְעוּץ
Jeuts, an Israelite
Definition
יְעוּץ (Yᵉʻûwts) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man named Jeuz. He is listed as one of the sons of Shaharaim, a Benjamite, in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 8:10. The name itself is derived from the Hebrew root meaning 'to counsel' or 'to advise,' suggesting a meaning like 'counselor' or 'one who gives advice.' As a personal name, it functions solely to identify this individual within the tribal lineage of Benjamin. No other meanings or applications of the word are found in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 8:10. It appears within a detailed genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin, specifically in the lineage returning from exile. Its usage is purely onomastic (name-related), serving to identify a specific individual among the descendants listed. There are no narrative contexts or patterns of usage beyond this single genealogical record.
Etymology
The name יְעוּץ (Yᵉʻûwts) is derived from the Hebrew root עוּץ (ʻûts, H5779), which means 'to counsel,' 'to advise,' or 'to devise.' It is a nominal form, essentially meaning 'counselor.' This root is also seen in other names and words, such as יוֹעֵץ (yôʻêts, H3289), a common term for a counselor. The name Jeuz therefore carries the connotation of one who provides wise guidance or strategy.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive, reflecting character traits, circumstances of birth, or parental hopes. A name like Jeuz ('counselor') may have indicated the parents' hope for their son's future role as a wise advisor within the clan or community. Its preservation in a post-exilic genealogy (1 Chronicles 8) underscores the importance of maintaining tribal identity and lineage after the return from Babylonian captivity.
יוֹעֵץ (yôʻêts, H3289) — A common noun for 'counselor' or 'advisor,' used of human advisors (e.g., 2 Samuel 15:12) and famously as a title for the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6), whereas יְעוּץ is solely a personal name.
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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