תּוֹקַהַת
𐤕𐤅𐤒𐤄𐤕
Toqahat
H8445 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tôqahath is a personal name occurring in the genealogies of the Levites, specifically in the line of Kohath. The lexical meaning of the name is uncertain, as its formation is ambiguous and parallels to related roots are not firm. In usage, it refers exclusively to an individual, the progenitor of a Levitical clan, and does not carry an identifiable common noun meaning such as 'obedience.'
Semantic Range
(1) a personal name, ancestor of a Levitical clan; (2, disputed) possibly linked to ideas of hope or obedience in later tradition, but not securely evidenced in the biblical text
Root / Etymology
The etymology of תּוֹקַהַת (Tôqahath) is uncertain. Strong's suggests it is from the same as יִקָּהָה (yikkāhāh), but that connection is linguistically tenuous and not widely supported in modern lexicography. The form appears as a theophoric or honorific personal name, likely based on a root of unclear meaning. There is no secure evidence to connect it with a root meaning 'obedience' or with the root קוה ('to hope, expect'), despite some surface similarity to similar names such as תִּקְוָה (Tiqwah, 'hope').
Historical & Contextual Notes
תּוֹקַהַת appears in the genealogical lists as an ancestor in the Levitical clan, specifically as a son of Levi through Kohath and the progenitor of the 'Toqathite' division (see 1 Chronicles 6:19, 6:44 [Eng. v. 6, 29]). There is no evidence that the name was in current or wider vernacular usage apart from being a personal name. The LXX usually renders the name with transliteration (Θωκαθ/Θωκαθαθ), indicating the translators did not understand it as having a common meaning. Some English versions shift the vocalization towards תִּקְוָה ('Tiqvah') in certain passages due to textual issues, but this is considered a correction and not original to the Levitical genealogy. In translation tradition, the emphasis falls on preservation of the name's form rather than meaning, as the semantic value is opaque.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as יִקָּהָה; obedience; Tokahath, an Israelite; Tikvath (by correction for תִּקְוָה).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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unknown (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly linked to obedience or hope, but not securely established
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8445-02 |
תוקהת | tvqht | HNp |
Tokhath | Tôqahath | 1 |
H8445-01 |
תָּקְהַ֗ת | taqehat | HNp |
Tokhath | Toqahath | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8445-02 |
2 Chronicles 34:22 | תוקהת | tvqht | HNp |
Tokhath | Tôqahath |
H8445-01 |
2 Chronicles 34:22 | תָּקְהַ֗ת | taqehat | HNp |
Tokhath | Toqahath |