יׇקְשָׁן
𐤉𐤒𐤔𐤍
Yqeshan
H3370 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yoqshan – a proper name denoting a historical figure, specifically a son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32). The primary lexical meaning is as a personal name; no attested use as a common noun. The meaning of the name is traditionally linked to the root 'to lay a snare, to entrap,' but the personal application is uncertain. In biblical context, Yoqshan serves solely as a genealogical term identifying an ancient figure considered an ancestor of various Arabian groups.
Semantic Range
proper name – Yoqshan, son of Abraham by Keturah; ancestor of Sheba and Dedan; possible literal sense of 'one who snares' is not attested in usage
Root / Etymology
From the root יקש (y-q-sh), which means 'to lay a snare' or 'to trap'; the form יׇקְשָׁן is a personal name formation, possibly indicating 'he who is ensnared/trapper/snarer,' though the precise etymological nuance for the name is unclear and may be symbolic or conventional rather than literal. Some propose it is a theophoric or geographic name, but this is unproven.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Yoqshan appears only as a personal name, never as a common noun or title. In the biblical genealogical lists, he is identified as a descendant of Abraham through Keturah, and the ancestor of the Arabian groups Sheba and Dedan, suggesting an origin point or eponym for those populations. No direct evidence ties the name etymologically to later geographic or ethnic groups. There is no evidence in the Hebrew Bible of religious, political, or ethnic significance attached to Yoqshan beyond his function in genealogical tradition. Unlike later usage of similar-sounding names in rabbinic or Arabian tradition, Yoqshan remains a sparsely referenced figure. English translations sometimes render the name as 'Jokshan,' following older conventions, but this reflects customary anglicizations rather than original meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָקֹשׁ; insidious; Jokshan, an Arabian patriarch; Jokshan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יקש (y-q-sh) — to lay a snare, to trap, to ensnare
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3352 | יָקוֹשׁ | snare-setter |
| H3353 | יָקוּשׁ | snarer |
| H3369 | יָקֹשׁ | you were ensnared |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3370-02 |
יָקְשָׁ֔ן | yaqeshan | HNp |
Jokshan | Yoqshan | 2 |
H3370-01 |
וְ/יָקְשָׁ֣ן | veyaqeshan | HC/Np |
and Jokshan | and Yoqshan | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3370-02 |
Genesis 25:2 | יָקְשָׁ֔ן | yaqeshan | HNp |
Jokshan | Yoqshan |
H3370-01 |
Genesis 25:3 | וְ/יָקְשָׁ֣ן | veyaqeshan | HC/Np |
and Jokshan | and Yoqshan |
H3370-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:32 | וְ/יָקְשָׁ֛ן | veyaqeshan | HC/Np |
and Jokshan | and Yoqshan |
H3370-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:32 | יָקְשָׁ֖ן | yaqeshan | HNp |
Jokshan | Yoqshan |