עִקֵּשׁ

עִקֵּשׁ

Ikkesh, an Israelite

Definition

עִקֵּשׁ (ʻIqqêsh) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite named Ikkesh, who was the father of Ira, one of King David's mighty warriors. The name appears in three Old Testament passages, all within the context of military leadership and service to David. In 2 Samuel 23:26 and 1 Chronicles 11:28, Ira son of Ikkesh is listed among David's 'Thirty' mighty men. In 1 Chronicles 27:9, he is noted as the commander of the sixth monthly division of David's army. The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew adjective meaning 'perverse' or 'crooked' (H6141), which may have been a descriptive nickname or a given name with moral or character connotations.

Biblical Usage

The word is used exclusively as a proper name for the father of Ira, a military leader under King David. It appears in three verses across two books: the historical book of 2 Samuel (23:26) and the chronicler's history in 1 Chronicles (11:28, 27:9). All occurrences are in lists of David's military personnel, specifically among the 'Thirty' elite warriors and the commanders of the monthly army divisions. This consistent usage places Ikkesh's family within the upper echelon of David's military establishment during his reign.

Etymology

The name עִקֵּשׁ (ʻIqqêsh) is linguistically identical to the Hebrew adjective עִקֵּשׁ (H6141), which means 'perverse,' 'crooked,' or 'twisted.' It derives from the root ע־ק־שׁ (ʻ-q-sh), conveying the sense of distortion or moral deviation. As a proper name, it may have functioned as a nickname describing a personal characteristic, or it may have been given with the hope that the child would overcome such a trait. It shares this root with the verb עָקַשׁ (ʻāqash, H6140), meaning 'to twist' or 'to make crooked.'

Semantic Range

While the name itself is not theologically central, its presence highlights the nature of God's chosen servants. David's mighty men, including Ira son of Ikkesh, were often individuals with complex backgrounds or names with negative connotations (like 'perverse'), yet they were used mightily by God to establish and protect His kingdom. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where God's strength is perfected in human weakness and His grace redeems and repurposes individuals for His divine plans (2 Corinthians 12:9). The name serves as a subtle reminder that God's work is accomplished through real, flawed people. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. A name like Ikkesh ('perverse' or 'crooked') might seem unusual to modern readers. It could have been a nickname earned through a physical trait, a temperament, or a past event, rather than a literal moral indictment. Alternatively, it may have been given in a protective or apotropaic manner, hoping the child would avoid the negative trait. Its use as a patronymic ('son of Ikkesh') in official military rosters indicates that the name carried no social stigma that prevented his son Ira from attaining high rank in David's army. עִקֵּשׁ (ʻiqqêsh, H6141) — This is the identical adjective meaning 'perverse' or 'crooked,' from which the proper name is derived. עָקַשׁ (ʻāqash, H6140) — A verb meaning 'to twist' or 'to make crooked,' sharing the same root and conveying the core idea of distortion.

Word Details