יוּכַל
Jukal, an Israelite
Definition
Yûwkal (יוּכַל) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man named Jukal, also known as Jehucal. He is specifically identified as the son of Shelemiah and is mentioned in the context of the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. In Jeremiah 38:1, Jukal is listed among the officials of King Zedekiah who heard Jeremiah's prophecies and demanded the prophet's imprisonment for demoralizing the city's defenders. The name itself is a shortened form of Yᵉhûwkal (יְהוּכַל), meaning 'Yahweh is able' or 'Yahweh can.'
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 38:1. It is used strictly as a personal name for a historical figure, an official in the court of King Zedekiah during a critical period of Judah's history. The context is political and prophetic opposition, as Jukal is among the princes who oppose the prophet Jeremiah.
Etymology
The name Yûwkal is a contracted form of the longer name Yᵉhûwkal (יְהוּכַל, H3081), which combines the divine name Yahweh (יהוה) with the verb yākōl (יָכֹל), meaning 'to be able.' Thus, the name means 'Yahweh is able' or 'Yahweh can,' expressing a theological affirmation of God's power. This shorter form likely arose through common linguistic shortening.
Semantic Range
While primarily a personal name, its etymology ('Yahweh is able') carries theological weight. It serves as a subtle reminder of God's sovereignty, even in a narrative where the bearer opposes God's prophet. The contrast between the name's meaning ('God can') and the character's actions (opposing God's word) can prompt reflection on human agency versus divine capability, especially in the context of Judah's impending judgment as declared by Jeremiah.
As a proper name, it reflects the common Israelite practice of using theophoric names (names containing a divine element, like 'Yah' for Yahweh). This practice expressed personal or familial faith. The character Jukal was a royal official (שַׂר), a position of political influence in the Judean court during the late monarchy, a time of intense political crisis and prophetic conflict.
Yᵉhûwkal (Jehucal, H3081) — The longer, formal version of the same name, sharing the identical meaning and referent in Jeremiah 37:3.
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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