◄ 3128. Yonath Elem Rechoqim ►
Lexical Summary
Yonath Elem Rechoqim: "The Silent Dove of Distant Places"

Original Word: יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: yownath 'elem rchoqiym
Pronunciation: yo-NAHT eh-LEM reh-kho-KEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (yo-nath' ay'-lem rekh-o-keem')
KJV: Jonath-elem-rechokim
Word Origin: [from H3123 (יוֹנָה - dove) and H482 (אֵלֶם - Youth) and the plural of H7350 (רָחוֹק רָחוֹק - far)]

1. silent dove of distant places
2. (of distances) strangers
3. the title of a ditty (used for a name of its melody)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jonath-elem-rechokim

From yownah and 'elem and the plural of rachowq; dove of (the) silence (i.e. Dumb Israel) of (i.e. Among) distances (i.e. Strangers); the title of a ditty (used for a name of its melody) -- Jonath-elem-rechokim.

see HEBREW yownah

see HEBREW 'elem

see HEBREW rachowq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yonah, elem and rachoq
Definition
"dove of distant silences," probably the name of a melody.

Topical Lexicon
Canonical Setting

The phrase יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים appears only in the superscription of Psalm 56: “For the choirmaster. To the tune of ‘A Silent Dove in Distant Lands.’ A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath” (Psalm 56 title). The expression therefore functions as a liturgical or musical direction rather than forming part of the narrative text itself, yet it colors the entire psalm with imagery that shapes the reader’s understanding.

Historical Background in David’s Life

Psalm 56 looks back to the events recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10–15, when David fled from Saul and was seized by the Philistines in Gath. Cornered among hostile foreigners, David feigned madness to escape. The title’s mention of “distant lands” evokes that displacement; the “dove” motif reflects David’s vulnerability and longing for deliverance. His immediate danger and forced silence before enemies provide the historical canvas on which the psalm’s pleas for mercy (Psalm 56:1–2) and confident trust in God (Psalm 56:3–4, 9) are painted.

Theological Significance of the Dove Motif

1. Innocence and Vulnerability
• The dove, a recognized symbol of harmlessness, underscores David’s non-aggressive posture in Gath.
• The psalm answers the cry expressed elsewhere: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; I would fly away and find rest” (Psalm 55:6).

2. Desire for Peace
• Doves were acceptable sacrificial birds (Leviticus 1:14), suggesting a life yielded to God.
• The title subtly proclaims that true refuge lies not in geographic escape but in the LORD’s steadfast love (Psalm 56:4, 11).

3. Typological Hints
• Israel often appears as a dove tugged between foreign powers (Hosea 11:11).
• In the New Testament the Holy Spirit descends “like a dove” upon Jesus (Matthew 3:16), fulfilling the hope that God Himself would intervene for the oppressed.

Liturgy and Musical Notation

Ancient choirmasters used known melodies as scaffolding for new psalms. “A Silent Dove in Distant Lands” likely denoted a well-recognized tune marked by plaintive undertones. By assigning Psalm 56 to that melody, David signaled the soberness of his situation and invited congregational empathy when the psalm was sung in corporate worship. Similar superscriptions (“Do Not Destroy,” “Lilies”) show that such notations guided both musical style and liturgical mood.

Christological and Ecclesiological Applications

1. Christ in David’s Experience
• As David was surrounded by Gentile enemies, so Christ stood silent before foreign rulers (Matthew 27:14).
• The confidence that “God is for me” (Psalm 56:9) ultimately finds its fullest expression in the cross and resurrection.

2. The Church Among the Nations
• Believers today are “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), often feeling like a dove among distant peoples.
• Psalm 56 models prayer that transforms fear into praise, equipping the church for faithful witness amid hostility.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Pastoral counseling: Psalm 56 provides language for those who feel voiceless or displaced.
• Worship planning: Pairing modern hymns of trust with readings from Psalm 56 can re-create the ancient setting.
• Mission emphasis: The title reminds congregations that God hears the “silent dove” even in remote contexts, motivating intercession for persecuted believers.

Related Biblical Themes and Cross-References

– Trust amid fear: Psalm 34:4; Isaiah 12:2.

– God’s care for the outcast: Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5.

– The song of the dove fulfilled in Christ: Luke 3:22; Colossians 1:20.

Summary

Though occurring only in one superscription, יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים layers Psalm 56 with rich imagery of innocence, exile, and hope. The phrase anchors the psalm in David’s personal history, enlarges it into a theological statement about God’s protection, and ultimately points forward to Christ and the church’s experience in a world still “distant” from its true home.

Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
3127
Top of Page
Top of Page