יׇקְדְעָם
𐤉𐤒𐤃𐤏𐤌
Yqedeam
H3347 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yoqdeʿam – a proper noun designating a specific town in the southern hill country of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah. The lexical construction suggests a place name meaning 'YHWH has set the people ablaze' or 'burning of the people,' likely referencing either a characteristic event or feature associated with the locale. In biblical texts, it functions solely as a toponym without evidence for broader, generic usage.
Semantic Range
proper name of a Judahite town; possibly, burning or burning event involving a people (in etymology only)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root יקד ('to burn, be kindled') and עם ('people'), likely forming 'burning of the people' or possibly 'he has set a people ablaze.' Compound Hebrew toponyms of this sort are common, often expressing a perceived trait or event linked to the settlement. The final meaning is a proper name, not a literal descriptive phrase.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Yoqdeʿam is only attested as a town in the territorial lists of Judah (Joshua 15:56), appearing exclusively as a place name without narrative elaboration. It is one of numerous Judahite towns listed during the Iron Age kingdom period. The etymological sense ('burning of the people') may recall a tradition or feature (historical, legendary, or geographical) known at the time of naming, but no extant biblical passage elaborates further. Later translations render the name as 'Jokdeam,' but this does not reflect a meaningful translation—just transcription. Archaeological or extra-biblical attestations are lacking, and its precise location remains uncertain. The name shares its compound construction with other ancient place-names combining a verb and 'people/nation,' reflecting early Israelite naming conventions. The standard English rendering as a proper noun does not reflect possible nuances, but this has little interpretive consequence given the word's exclusive use as a toponym.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָקַד and עַם; burning of (the) people; Jokdeam, a place in Palestine; Jokdeam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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יקד־עם (y-q-d ʿ-m) — to burn, be kindled; people, nation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3347-01 |
וְ/יָקְדְעָ֖ם | veyaqedeam | HC/Np |
and Jokdeam | and Burning-of-People | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3347-01 |
Joshua 15:56 | וְ/יָקְדְעָ֖ם | veyaqedeam | HC/Np |
and Jokdeam | and Burning-of-People |