Bible Word Study
יוֹיָקִים
Yôwyâqîym · Jojakim, an Israelite
יוֹיָקִים
Jojakim, an Israelite
Definition
Yôwyâqîym (Joiakim) is a proper name meaning 'Yahweh raises up' or 'Yahweh establishes.' In the Old Testament, it refers specifically to Joiakim, the son of Jeshua, who served as high priest in Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 12:10). He is listed in the priestly genealogies, and his tenure is noted during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. The name appears only in the context of these post-exilic priestly records, distinguishing him from the earlier King Jehoiakim (a different Hebrew form).
Biblical Usage
This name is used exclusively in the book of Nehemiah, appearing three times within priestly genealogical lists (Nehemiah 12:10, 12:12, 12:26). In each instance, it identifies Joiakim as the high priest who succeeded his father, Jeshua, and was the father of Eliashib. The usage is strictly for historical and genealogical recording, emphasizing the continuity of the priestly line during the restoration of Jerusalem.
Etymology
Yôwyâqîym is a variant form of the name יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim, H3079), which combines the divine name Yahweh (יהוה) with the verb קוּם (qum), meaning 'to arise' or 'to establish.' Thus, the name means 'Yahweh raises up.' It is a theophoric name, common in Judah, expressing faith in God's establishing power. The shortened form יוֹיָקִים appears in the post-exilic texts, while the fuller form is used for the pre-exilic king.
Semantic Range
The name Joiakim, meaning 'Yahweh establishes,' is theologically significant as it appears in the post-exilic priestly line. It underscores God's faithfulness in restoring and maintaining the priesthood after the exile, a key institution for Israel's worship and covenant relationship. Understanding this Hebrew name enriches the reading of Nehemiah by highlighting God's ongoing work to re-establish His people according to His promises. In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaningful declarations about God's character or actions. 'Joiakim' reflects a common practice of using theophoric names to express devotion and theological truth. As a high priest's name during the rebuilding period, it signified hope in God's power to re-establish the community. The shortened form in Nehemiah may reflect linguistic evolution or stylistic preference in late biblical Hebrew. יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim, H3079) — The fuller form of the name, used for King Jehoiakim in 2 Kings and Jeremiah. יוֹקִים (Yowqiym, H3137) — Another shortened variant, possibly referring to a different individual in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:29).
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]