יׇקְמְעָם
Jokmeam, a place in Palestine
Definition
Jokmeam is a proper noun referring to a town in ancient Israel, located within the territory of Ephraim. It is listed as one of the administrative districts under Solomon's reign (1 Kings 4:12). The name also appears in a list of Levitical cities given to the Kohathites from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 6:68). In both contexts, it signifies a specific geographical location with administrative and religious significance.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Jokmeam' is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a place name. It first appears in 1 Kings 4:12, where it designates one of Solomon's twelve administrative districts. Its second occurrence is in 1 Chronicles 6:68, where it is identified as one of the cities allotted to the Levites from the tribe of Ephraim. There is no variation in its meaning between these two uses.
Etymology
The name Jokmeam (יׇקְמְעָם) is derived from the Hebrew roots קוּם (qûm, H6965), meaning 'to arise' or 'stand up,' and עַם (ʻam, H5971), meaning 'people.' It is a compound name, likely meaning 'the people will be raised' or 'may the people arise.' This follows a common pattern for Hebrew place names that express a hope or declaration.
Semantic Range
While Jokmeam itself is not a theologically loaded term, its appearances contribute to our understanding of biblical history and God's provision. Its listing in 1 Chronicles 6:68 highlights the fulfillment of God's command to provide cities for the Levites (Numbers 35:1-8), ensuring the maintenance of worship and instruction in Israel. Its mention in Solomon's administrative list (1 Kings 4:12) reflects the organized structure of the united kingdom, a period of peace and prosperity under God's blessing.
As a place name, Jokmeam reflects the Israelite practice of giving locations meaningful names, often related to events, hopes, or geographical features. Its assignment as a Levitical city placed it within a network of towns dedicated to supporting the priestly tribe, which held no territorial inheritance. This system was central to Israel's religious and social structure, dispersing religious teachers throughout the land.
יְקַמְעָם (Yᵉqamʻâm, H3360) — A variant spelling of the same place name, used in 1 Chronicles 6:68 in some textual traditions. יׇקְנְעָם (Yoqnᵉʻâm, H3362) — A distinct but phonetically similar city, Jokneam, located in the territory of Zebulun (Joshua 12:22; 19:11).
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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