יוֹחָא
Jocha, the name of two Israelites
Definition
יוֹחָא (Yôwchâʼ) is a proper noun, the name of two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The name itself is a compound, likely meaning 'Yahweh has revived' or 'Yahweh gives life.' Both men bearing this name appear in genealogical and military lists within the tribe of Benjamin. The first is listed among the sons of Beriah in 1 Chronicles 8:16, and the second is noted as one of David's mighty men from the town of Tizite in 1 Chronicles 11:45. The name signifies a personal identity rooted in the life-giving power of God.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exclusively in the book of 1 Chronicles, appearing only twice. In 1 Chronicles 8:16, it is found within a lengthy genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin. In 1 Chronicles 11:45, it appears in a list of David's elite warriors, specifically describing Jocha as a Tizite. The usage is purely onomastic (naming), serving to identify individuals within historical and military contexts.
Etymology
The name יוֹחָא is generally understood as a theophoric compound, combining a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh (יְהֹוָה, H3068) with a form derived from the root חָיָה (ḥāyâ, H2421), meaning 'to live' or 'to revive.' Thus, the probable etymological meaning is 'Yahweh has revived' or 'Yahweh gives life.' It is related to other names like Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּה), which also incorporate the concept of life or strength from Yahweh.
Semantic Range
As a personal name meaning 'Yahweh has revived,' it serves as a small but potent testament to Israelite faith. It embodies the belief that life and vitality are gifts from God. While not a central theological term, its presence in scripture personalizes the doctrine of God as the source of life. For the modern reader, it reminds us that biblical characters bore names that declared their dependence on and experience of God's life-giving power.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive and carried significant meaning, frequently invoking the name of God (Yahweh). A name like Jocha ('Yahweh has revived') likely reflected the parents' gratitude for a child's birth, perhaps after difficulty, or expressed a hope for God's sustaining life. It identifies the individual as part of a community that understood personal identity in direct relation to their covenant God.
חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqiyâh, H2396) — Another theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh strengthens,' sharing the element of divine action in a person's life. יְהוֹיָכִין (Yᵊhôwyâkîn, H3078) — A name meaning 'Yahweh establishes,' showing a similar name structure emphasizing God's active role.
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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