עַכּוֹ
𐤏𐤊𐤅
Ako
H5910 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to the city of Akko (also known later as Ptolemais), a coastal settlement in the northwest boundary of ancient Canaan. In biblical contexts, 'Akko' functions as a place name and does not itself describe action or attribute; its use is limited to geographic identification. The semantic range includes only the city itself, but with historical shifts, the name applies to different periods and civic identities.
Semantic Range
A seaport city (Akko) on the northwest edge of ancient Canaan, specifically as a place name in territorial lists; later known as Ptolemais, but in the Hebrew Bible restricted to the coastal city under non-Israelite control.
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The form עַכּוֹ is likely ancient and not produced from a productive verbal root in biblical Hebrew. The connection to a hypothetical root meaning 'to hem in' is conjectural and not supported by clear cognates or derived forms in Hebrew or related Semitic languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, 'Akko' appears solely in Judges 1:31 as a city within the territorial domain allotted to the tribe of Asher, signifying its role as a non-Israelite-controlled city at the time. In the Iron Age, Akko was inhabited by Canaanites and Phoenicians, contributing to its distinct cultural and political status apart from Israelite settlements. During later periods (notably in Greco-Roman times), the city became known as Ptolemais. English Bible translations often use 'Accho' (following KJV) or 'Acco', but these forms do not reflect the ancient local pronunciation or later historical phases. The city's mention in Judges highlights its persistence as a foreign enclave and commercial seaport on the northern coastal plain, with ongoing importance in regional trade and military strategy. Unlike names such as 'Jerusalem' (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם) or 'Hebron' (חֶבְרוֹן), 'Akko' does not accrue symbolic religious meaning within the biblical text but remains primarily geographic. Later translations and communities (including in Christian and Islamic periods) assigned different identities and significances to Akko/Ptolemais, but these lay outside the biblical period proper.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from an unused root meaning to hem in; Akko (from its situation on a bay); Accho.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עכו (uncertain) (ʿ-k-w (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly enclosure (conjectural)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5910-01 |
עַכּ֔וֹ | ako | HNp |
Acco | Akko | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5910-01 |
Judges 1:31 | עַכּ֔וֹ | ako | HNp |
Acco | Akko |