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יׇקְטָן

𐤉𐤒𐤈𐤍

Yqetan

H3355 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קטן to be small, to become insignificant, to be young

Definition

Yoqṭan is a proper name referring to an early southern Semitic patriarch, specifically listed as a descendant of Shem and ancestor of various southern Arabian tribes. The primary lexical meaning relates to the personal name itself rather than a common noun or verb. The semantic range is restricted to its function as a personal name in genealogical contexts, identifying a figure associated with the dispersion of Semitic peoples, especially in regions of southern Arabia.

Semantic Range

personal name (descendant of Eber; name of a patriarch); possibly 'he will be diminished' if treated as verbal formation, but only attested as a proper name

Root / Etymology

From the root קָטַן (qṭn), meaning 'to be small, insignificant, or young.' יׇקְטָן is a Qal imperfect third masculine singular form ('he will become small' or 'he will be diminished'), used here as a proper name. The formation is typical in early Semitic naming, where personal names reflect qualities or hoped-for attributes derived from verbal roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, Yoqṭan appears solely in genealogical lists (Genesis 10:25–30; 1 Chronicles 1:19–23) as one of the sons of Eber and the progenitor of thirteen named descendants, most of whom are associated with southern Arabian locations. The use of the term 'Arabian patriarch' in older English translations reflects a post-biblical understanding; the biblical text itself shows no direct association with later Arab identities. No evidence suggests the name's use beyond this specific genealogical context. Distinct from the root's typical adjectival or verbal usages, the name Yoqṭan has no common noun or verb function in Biblical Hebrew. Later translation traditions (e.g., Vulgate, Septuagint) transliterate the name rather than translate it, and in later Jewish and Islamic traditions, Joktan is associated with the ancestors of southern Arabian populations. The English term 'Arabian patriarch' is an interpretive gloss not found in the original text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָטֹן; he will be made little; Joktan, an Arabian patriarch; Joktan.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קטן (q-ṭ-n) — to be small, to become insignificant, to be young

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6994 קָטֹן to make small
H6995 קֹטֶן my little finger
H7005 קַטָּת and Qattath

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3355-02 יָקְטָֽן yaqetan HNp Joktan He-will-be-small 4
H3355-01 וְ/יָקְטָ֣ן veyaqetan HC/Np And Joktan Yoqtan 2

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3355-02 Genesis 10:25 יָקְטָֽן yaqetan HNp was Joktan He-will-be-small
H3355-01 Genesis 10:26 וְ/יָקְטָ֣ן veyaqetan HC/Np And Joktan Yoqtan
H3355-02 Genesis 10:29 יָקְטָֽן yaqetan HNp Joktan He-will-be-small
H3355-02 1 Chronicles 1:19 יָקְטָֽן yaqetan HNp Joktan He-will-be-small
H3355-01 1 Chronicles 1:20 וְ/יָקְטָ֣ן veyaqetan HC/Np And Joktan Yoqtan
H3355-02 1 Chronicles 1:23 יָקְטָֽן yaqetan HNp Joktan He-will-be-small
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