זֶכֶר
Zeker, an Israelite
Definition
Zeker is a proper noun referring to a specific individual in the Old Testament. He is listed as a son of Jeiel, a Benjamite, in the genealogy found in 1 Chronicles 8:31. The name itself means 'remembrance' or 'memorial,' derived from the common Hebrew noun זֵכֶר (zeker, H2143). As a personal name, it likely carried the connotation of being remembered by God or serving as a memorial to God's faithfulness within the family line.
Biblical Usage
The word זֶכֶר (Zeker) is used only once in the Old Testament, exclusively as a proper name. It appears in a genealogical list within the tribe of Benjamin, specifically in 1 Chronicles 8:31. This context is purely historical and genealogical, serving to trace the lineage of Saul's family. There are no other usages or patterns, as it is a single, unique reference to an individual.
Etymology
The name Zeker is identical to the common Hebrew noun זֵכֶר (zeker, H2143), which means 'remembrance,' 'memory,' or 'memorial.' It shares the same root (ז-כ-ר) as the verb 'to remember' (זָכַר, zakar, H2142). As a personal name, it is a theophoric element implying 'Yahweh remembers' or is a shortened form of a longer name like Zechariah (זְכַרְיָה, 'Yahweh remembers').
Semantic Range
While the individual Zeker is not a major biblical figure, his name is theologically significant. It is built on the root for 'remember,' a key concept in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. God's remembering is an active, saving action (e.g., Genesis 8:1, Exodus 2:24). A name meaning 'remembrance' embedded in a genealogy subtly testifies to the importance of God's faithful memory of His promises across generations.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and descriptive. Giving a child a name like Zeker ('remembrance') was a way of invoking divine favor or commemorating an event. Being listed in a tribal genealogy, as in 1 Chronicles 8, established one's identity, inheritance rights, and place within the covenant community. For modern readers, a single name in a long list can seem insignificant, but in its original context, it affirmed the individual's and family's belonging to God's people.
זֵכֶר (zeker, H2143) — The common noun for 'remembrance' or 'memorial,' from which the proper name is directly derived. זָכַר (zakar, H2142) — The primary verb 'to remember,' the root of the name. זְכַרְיָה (Zekharyah, H2148) — The more common full name 'Zechariah,' meaning 'Yahweh remembers.'
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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