Original Word: דִּקְלָה
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine (location)
Transliteration: Diqlah
Pronunciation: DEEK-lah
Phonetic Spelling: (dik-law')
KJV: Diklah
NASB: Diklah
Word Origin: [of foreign origin]

1. Diklah, a region of Arabia

Diklah

Of foreign origin; Diklah, a region of Arabia -- Diklah.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a son of Joktan, also the S. Arabian tribe desc. from him
NASB Translation
Diklah (2).

דִּקְלָה proper name, masculine (location) a son of Joktan, i.e. an Arabian territory or people Genesis 10:27 = 1 Chronicles 1:21; unknown, compare Di Genesis 10:27.

Name

Diklah

Scriptural Occurrences

Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21

Genealogical Context

Diklah appears among the thirteen sons of Joktan, the great-great-grandson of Shem. In Genesis 10 the inspired writer records, “Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan” (Genesis 10:26-29). The Chronicler repeats the same lineage (1 Chronicles 1:19-23). These parallel lists underscore the harmony between Torah and Chronicles and locate Diklah firmly within the post-Flood dispersion of the Shemite clans often called the “Table of Nations.”

Geographical Associations

The sons of Joktan are said to have dwelt “from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the eastern hill country” (Genesis 10:30). This description points to the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, stretching from modern-day Yemen toward Oman. Many scholars note that several Joktanite names—Sheba, Ophir, Havilah—reappear later as well-known Arabian regions, strengthening the view that Diklah’s descendants integrated into these Semitic tribal networks that filled Arabia’s fertile valleys and incense routes.

Symbolic Resonance of Palm Imagery

The traditional sense of the name links it with palm trees or a palm grove. Throughout Scripture palms symbolize righteousness, victory, and flourishing under God’s blessing (Psalm 92:12; John 12:13; Revelation 7:9). Even though Diklah himself is not individually profiled, his inclusion under a name that evokes palms subtly anticipates the prophetic hope that the nations descended from Shem will one day “blossom like the palm” as they come under Messiah’s reign.

Biblical-Theological Significance

1. Authentic History: By preserving even the lesser-known Joktanite sons, the text grounds salvation history in verifiable human families. Matthew and Luke later emulate this precision when tracing the genealogy of Jesus Christ, demonstrating Scripture’s consistent concern for historical integrity.
2. Universal Scope: The placement of Diklah among the Table of Nations highlights God’s sovereign interest in every people group. He “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26).
3. Prophetic Trajectory: Joktan’s line develops alongside the line of Peleg, from which Abram eventually emerges (Genesis 11:16-26). The narrative thereby invites readers to anticipate the unfolding promise “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Ministry and Devotional Insights

• Individual Worth: Though Diklah never reappears in the narrative, his inclusion reminds believers that God knows each name and records each life (Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12).
• Missional Vision: The Arabian setting associated with Diklah encourages prayer for modern peoples in that region, trusting that the gospel’s reach extends to every Joktanite descendant.
• Faithful Record: Teachers and students can point to Diklah when defending the reliability of Scripture. The seamless agreement between Genesis and Chronicles—written centuries apart—models God’s preservation of His Word.

Related Entries

Joktan; Sheba; Ophir; Table of Nations; Genealogies of Genesis

דִּקְלָֽה׃ דקלה׃ dikLah diq·lāh diqlāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts