Original Word: יַעֲקֹבָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ya`aqobah
Pronunciation: yah-ak-o-bah'
Phonetic Spelling: (yah-ak-o'-baw)
KJV: Jaakobah
NASB: Jaakobah
Word Origin: [from H3290 (יַעֲקוֹב - Jacob)]

1. Jaakobah, an Israelite

Jaakobah, an Israelite

From Ya'aqob; Jaakobah, an Israelite:

see HEBREW Ya'aqob

Word Origin
from the same as aqeb
Definition
a Simeonite
NASB Translation
Jaakobah (1).

יַעֲקֹ֫בָה proper name, masculine Simeonite 1 Chronicles 4:36 Ιωκαβα, A Ιακαβα, ᵐ5^L Ιεκεβα.

Biblical Occurrence

Jaakobah appears one time in the Old Testament, in the Simeonite register preserved in 1 Chronicles 4:36. The verse forms part of a roster of clan chiefs who expanded southward during the reign of Hezekiah. The Berean Standard Bible reads, “Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah.” Although the Chronicler records no additional exploits for Jaakobah personally, his inclusion among these leaders identifies him as a man of standing whose household participated in securing new grazing territory and subduing remnants of Amalek (1 Chronicles 4:39-43).

Historical Setting

1 Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile to remind the restored community of its heritage. The Simeonite list (4:24-43) reaches back to events in the days of Hezekiah, roughly three centuries before the Chronicler wrote. Israel’s southern frontier was threatened by nomadic peoples; Simeonite chiefs, including Jaakobah, led a campaign into the hill country of Seir, “struck down the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day” (1 Chronicles 4:43). Jaakobah thus belongs to a generation that protected covenant lands and opened pasture for their flocks, illustrating God’s ongoing provision for His people between the conquest and exile.

Name Significance

The name derives from the patriarch Jacob, recalling God’s covenant promises to the fathers. Assigning a son the name Jaakobah within Simeon’s tribe signals loyalty to Israel’s national account and confidence that the blessings first spoken to Jacob would extend to later generations. In post-exilic times the Chronicler’s readers could see in Jaakobah a testimony that every family, however obscure, stands within the same redemptive line.

Genealogy and Covenant Continuity

Chronicles highlights genealogies to show that the exile had not broken God’s purposes. Each preserved name accents divine faithfulness. Jaakobah’s presence in the list affirms that Simeon, though scattered (Genesis 49:7), retained identifiable clans and leaders. This continuity underscores the reliability of the divine word spoken through Jacob and Moses and anticipates the fuller restoration promised by the prophets.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Faithfulness in Ordinary Lives – Jaakobah never headlines Scripture, yet the Holy Spirit saw fit to record his name. In the economy of God, anonymity does not equal insignificance; He “remembers His covenant forever” (Psalm 105:8).
2. Corporate Responsibility – The Simeonite chiefs acted together. The land they secured benefited the whole tribe. God often advances His purposes through communal obedience rather than solitary heroes.
3. Covenant Expansion – The conquest of Amalekite territory by Jaakobah’s cohort extends the theme of Israel inheriting the nations (Genesis 22:17-18). This foreshadows the universal scope of the gospel mission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Value Every Believer: Pastors and teachers can point to Jaakobah when emphasizing that God values each member of the body, not only public figures (1 Corinthians 12:22-24).
• Encourage Faithful Record-Keeping: Church leaders who document testimonies, baptisms, and ministries mirror the Chronicler’s concern to preserve God’s works for future generations.
• Inspire Communal Action: Jaakobah’s collective military venture illustrates the power of united service in advancing kingdom objectives today, whether in missions, mercy, or evangelism.

New Testament Resonance

The Chronicles genealogy that includes Jaakobah stands in the larger biblical pattern culminating in the genealogies of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1; Luke 3). Every named saint, Jaakobah included, ultimately finds significance in pointing forward to the Messiah, through whom the covenant promises to Jacob are fulfilled (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Summary

Though mentioned only once, Jaakobah represents a faithful leader whose life contributed to covenant preservation, tribal security, and the unfolding account of redemption. His recorded name beckons readers to trust the Lord who weaves individual lives into His grand design and to labor together for the inheritance He promises to His people.

וְֽיַעֲקֹ֡בָה ויעקבה veyaaKoah wə·ya·‘ă·qō·ḇāh wəya‘ăqōḇāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts