יוֹקִים
Jokim, an Israelite
Definition
Jokim is a proper name of an Israelite man mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 4:22. The name itself means 'Yahweh raises up' or 'Yahweh establishes.' As a personal name, it functions solely to identify this individual within the tribe of Judah. There are no other major senses or meanings for this specific form, as it appears only once in the biblical text with this precise spelling and referent.
Biblical Usage
The name יוֹקִים (Yôwqîym) is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:22. It appears within a list of descendants of Judah, specifically among those described as 'men of Cozeba' or 'the families of the house of linen workers.' Its usage is purely genealogical, serving to record a lineage. There are no narrative contexts or patterns of usage beyond this single occurrence.
Etymology
The name יוֹקִים (Yôwqîym) is a shortened or variant form of the more common name יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim, H3079), which means 'Yahweh raises up.' It is derived from the root קוּם (qum, H6965), meaning 'to arise' or 'to stand,' combined with a theophoric element for Yahweh (יְהוֹ). The name expresses a theological statement of trust in God's establishing power.
Semantic Range
While the individual Jokim is not a major biblical figure, his name carries theological significance. As a theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh raises up,' it reflects the Israelite practice of embedding declarations of faith in God's character and actions within personal names. It serves as a small, enduring witness within a genealogy to the belief that God is the one who establishes, exalts, and gives stability to His people. Understanding this meaning enriches the reading of even simple lists by revealing the personal piety and hope embedded in family lineages.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and descriptive, not merely labels. A name like Jokim, declaring 'Yahweh raises up,' likely expressed the parents' hope or testimony regarding God's action in their child's life or in the community. Its appearance in a genealogy of craftsmen (linen workers) in 1 Chronicles 4:21-23 highlights that such faith-filled names were used across different social and vocational strata within Israel.
יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim, H3079) — The longer, more common form of the same name, borne by a king of Judah (2 Kings 23:34).
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.
Full methodology & sources →