יוֹנֶקֶת
𐤉𐤅𐤍𐤒𐤕
yôwneqeth
H3127 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A suckling shoot or tender sprout that grows from the main stem or trunk of a plant, especially a branch or twig in its early stage of growth. In biblical contexts, the term often denotes a fresh, young offshoot, emphasizing newness, fragility, and potential for development; it can be used both literally of plant shoots and metaphorically to signify nascent or emerging life or leadership.
Semantic Range
suckling shoot, tender sprout, young shoot, new twig, metaphor for nascent life or leadership
Root / Etymology
Root: ינק meaning 'to suck, draw, nurse.' 'יוֹנֶקֶת' is a feminine noun formed from this root, referring to something that draws nourishment, specifically the young shoot or sprout of a plant which 'sucks' or draws sap from the parent stem.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term יוֹנֶקֶת most literally refers to a young plant shoot, highlighting its dependent, tender, and developing nature. It appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Job 8:16; Ezekiel 17:22) and often evokes imagery of new growth or delicate beginnings. The metaphorical usage—sometimes used for a fledgling Israelite leader or community—carries the sense of emerging vitality but also vulnerability. English translations like 'branch,' 'shoot,' or 'twig' capture part of the meaning, but often lack the nuance of tender dependence and developing potential. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for 'branch' (e.g., זֶמֶר, דָּלִית, צֵמַח), which can refer to larger or more mature growth and may not denote the same sense of youth or dependence. Over time, the word's metaphorical associations were picked up in later biblical poetry and prophetic writings, but it remains less common than more general terms for branch or shoot.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of יוֹנֵק; a sprout; (tender) branch, young twig.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ינק (y-n-q) — to suck, nurse, draw nourishment
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3126 | יוֹנֵק | like a suckling shoot |
| H3242 | יְנִיקָה | his nourished shoots |
| H3243 | יָנַק | the nursing one |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3127-03 |
יֹֽנְקוֹתָי/ו֙ | yoneqotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
its sucklings | his suckling shoots | 2 |
H3127-02 |
יֹֽנַקְתּ֥/וֹ | yonaqeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his branch | his suckling shoot | 2 |
H3127-01 |
וְ֝/יֹֽנַקְתּ֗/וֹ | veyonaqeto | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and its shoots | and his suckling shoot | 1 |
H3127-04 |
יֽוֹנְקוֹתֶֽי/הָ | yoneqoteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
its sucklings | her suckling shoots | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3127-03 |
Ezekiel 17:22 | יֹֽנְקוֹתָי/ו֙ | yoneqotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
its-young-twigs | his suckling shoots |
H3127-03 |
Hosea 14:7 | יֹֽנְקוֹתָ֔י/ו | yoneqotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
its sucklings | his suckling shoots |
H3127-04 |
Psalms 80:12 | יֽוֹנְקוֹתֶֽי/הָ | yoneqoteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
its sucklings | her suckling shoots |
H3127-02 |
Job 8:16 | יֹֽנַקְתּ֥/וֹ | yonaqeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his branch | his suckling shoot |
H3127-01 |
Job 14:7 | וְ֝/יֹֽנַקְתּ֗/וֹ | veyonaqeto | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and its shoots | and his suckling shoot |
H3127-02 |
Job 15:30 | יֹֽ֭נַקְתּ/וֹ | yonaqeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his-shoot | his suckling shoot |