זֹקֶן
old age
Definition
The Hebrew noun זֹקֶן (zôqen) specifically denotes the state or condition of being old, i.e., 'old age.' It refers to the advanced period of a person's life. In its single biblical occurrence in Genesis 48:10, it describes the physical state of Israel's (Jacob's) eyes, which were 'dim from age,' highlighting the natural decline associated with a long life. The word focuses on the fact of being aged, rather than the authority or status that can accompany it.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 48:10, where it describes the patriarch Jacob's (Israel's) failing eyesight due to his advanced years. The context is the blessing of Joseph's sons, where Jacob's physical frailty in his old age is noted just before he bestows a significant prophetic blessing, contrasting physical weakness with spiritual insight and authority.
Etymology
זֹקֶן (zôqen) is a noun derived from the root זָקֵן (zāqēn, H2204), which as a verb means 'to be old' and as an adjective/noun means 'old man' or 'elder.' The noun זֹקֶן specifically abstracts the quality of 'old age' from the state of being old. Cognate words exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Aramaic, with similar meanings related to age and seniority.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is simple, its single use in Genesis 48:10 is theologically significant. It sets the scene for a major covenantal blessing. Jacob's physical weakness ('his eyes were dim from age') stands in contrast to his spiritual clarity and authority as he deliberately crosses his hands to bless Ephraim over Manasseh. This illustrates that God's purposes and blessings are not hindered by human frailty or cultural expectations of seniority (the younger is blessed over the older). It underscores that spiritual discernment and God's elective grace operate independently of physical condition.
In ancient Israelite culture, old age (זָקֵן) was generally associated with wisdom, honor, and authority. However, the specific noun זֹקֶן in Genesis 48:10 highlights the physical aspect—the diminished capacity that can accompany advanced years. The cultural expectation was to honor the elderly, but the text honestly portrays the physical reality of aging, even for a revered patriarch, making his subsequent prophetic act more striking.
זָקֵן (zāqēn, H2205) — An adjective/noun meaning 'old man' or 'elder,' focusing on the person (often with implied authority) rather than the abstract state of age. שֵׂיבָה (sēḇâ, H7872) — 'gray hair,' 'old age,' often used poetically and carries a stronger connotation of honor, dignity, and the venerable aspect of aging (e.g., Proverbs 16:31).
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 →