Bible Word Study
עׇכְרָן
ʻOkrân · Okran, an Israelite
עׇכְרָן
Okran, an Israelite
Definition
Okran (עׇכְרָן) is the name of an Israelite from the tribe of Asher, the father of Pagiel. He is listed as a leader of his tribe during the wilderness wanderings after the Exodus. His name, meaning 'muddler' or 'troubler,' is derived from the Hebrew root עָכַר (ʿāḵar), which implies causing disturbance or trouble. In the biblical narrative, Okran himself is not depicted as causing trouble; he is simply recorded as a tribal representative in the census (Numbers 1:13), the tribal encampment order (Numbers 2:27), and the offerings for the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:72, 77).
Biblical Usage
The name Okran is used exclusively in the book of Numbers, specifically in administrative and liturgical contexts related to the organization of the Israelite tribes. It appears in the census of fighting men (Numbers 1:13), the description of the tribal arrangement around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:27), and the list of leaders who brought identical offerings for the altar's dedication (Numbers 7:72, 77; Numbers 10:26 records his son Pagiel as the leader). The usage is purely genealogical and official, identifying him as a head of the tribe of Asher.
Etymology
The name Okran is a proper noun derived from the Hebrew root עָכַר (ʿāḵar, H5916), meaning 'to trouble, disturb, or stir up.' It is a participial form suggesting 'one who troubles' or 'muddler.' This root is famously used in Joshua 7:25, where Achan is called the 'troubler of Israel.' The name likely carried a descriptive or perhaps cautionary meaning, though for the biblical figure Okran, it appears to be simply a personal identifier without narrative commentary on his character.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often held significant meaning, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or perceived character traits. The name Okran ('troubler') fits this pattern. While the biblical record does not attribute any negative actions to him, his name serves as a reminder of the importance of names and identity within the tribal structure. His role as a named leader in the census and offerings highlights the value placed on each tribe's representation and contribution to the collective worship and community of Israel during the wilderness period. Achan (עׇכָן, H5917) — Another personal name derived from the same root (עָכַר), but belonging to the tribe of Judah who brought trouble on Israel by taking devoted things (Joshua 7).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]