יוֹכֶבֶד
Jokebed, the mother of Moses
Definition
Yokhebed (Jochebed) is the name of the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, making her a pivotal matriarch in the founding of Israel's leadership. Her name means 'Yahweh is glory' or 'Yahweh is honored,' reflecting a direct connection to the divine name. She is explicitly identified as the daughter of Levi and the wife of Amram in Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59, establishing her within the priestly Levitical lineage. Her courageous act of defying Pharaoh's decree by hiding the infant Moses (Exodus 2:1-10) directly facilitated God's plan for Israel's deliverance.
Biblical Usage
The name Yokhebed appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in genealogical contexts that establish her family relationships. In Exodus 6:20, she is listed in the genealogy of Moses and Aaron to confirm their Levitical heritage. In Numbers 26:59, she is again named in a census of the Levites, reinforcing her foundational role within the tribe that would serve the tabernacle. There is no narrative usage of her name outside these official records, though her story is told in Exodus 2.
Etymology
The name Yokhebed (יוֹכֶבֶד) is a compound name, derived from a contracted form of the divine name Yahweh (יְהֹוָה, H3068) and the verb kāḇaḏ (כָּבַד, H3513), meaning 'to be heavy, weighty, or honored.' Thus, the name signifies 'Yahweh is glory' or 'Yahweh is honored.' It is a classic example of a Hebrew theophoric name, where a deity's name is incorporated to express devotion or an attribute of God.
Semantic Range
Yokhebed's life and name are theologically significant. Her name itself is a confession of God's glory. Her actions demonstrate faithful human agency within God's sovereign plan of salvation, as her protection of Moses was instrumental in preserving the future deliverer. As a Levite, she is part of the priestly line through which the Law would be administered, and she is the mother of the prophet Moses, the priest Aaron, and the prophetess Miriam, making her family central to God's covenant leadership. Understanding her name enriches the narrative by highlighting that even in oppression, Israel honored Yahweh.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried descriptive meaning or expressed a parent's faith or circumstances. Yokhebed's theophoric name, incorporating Yahweh, indicates her family's devotion to God even during Israel's slavery in Egypt. As a daughter of Levi, she belonged to the tribe set apart for priestly service, a status highlighted in the genealogies. Her story of hiding Moses showcases a mother's resourcefulness and courage in the face of a genocidal state decree, a powerful act of resistance within her cultural context.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. Related figures include: Miryam (H4813) — her daughter; 'Amram (H6019) — her husband; Levi (H3878) — her father.
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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