Lexical Summary yakach: To reprove, to correct, to argue, to decide, to judge Original Word: יָכַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correction, dispute, judge, A primitive root; to be right (i.e. Correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict -- appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to decide, adjudge, prove NASB Translation adjudicates (1), appointed (2), argue (3), argument prove (1), chastened (1), cleared (1), complained (1), correct (2), decide (3), dispute (1), make a decision (1), offer reproof (1), plead (1), prove (1), reason (2), rebuke (6), rebukes (2), refuted (1), render decisions (2), rendered judgment (1), reprove (9), reproved (2), reprover (1), reproves (7), surely reprove (2), umpire (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יָכַח] verb Hiph`il decide, adjudge, prove, (Late Hebrew Pi`el וִכַּח argue with (עם), compare Hithpa`el, Hiph`il prove, correct; Aramaic Pa וַכַּח Aph`el אוֺכַח, id.) — Hiph`il Perfect הוֺכִיחַ Isaiah 2:4 5t.; הֹכִיחַ Genesis 24:44; הוֺכִחַ Genesis 21:25; 2masculine singular חֹכַחְתָּ Genesis 24:14; 1singular suffix הוֺכַחְתִּיו 2 Samuel 7:14; Imperfect יוֺכִיחַ Isaiah 11:3 5t.; יוֺכַח Hosea 4:4 4t.; יוֺכָ֑ח 1 Chronicles 12:17; suffix יוֺכִיחֵנִי Psalm 141:5 12t. Imperfect; Imperative הוֺכַח Proverbs 9:8; Infinitive absolute הוֺכֵחַ Leviticus 19:17 5t.; construct הוֺכִיחַ Habakkuk 1:12; הַלְהוֺכַח Job 6:26; Participle מוֺכִיחַ Ezekiel 3:26 8t.; plural מוֺכִיחִים Proverbs 24:25; — 1 decide, judge, absolute Genesis 31:42 (E), 1 Chronicles 12:17; Isaiah 11:3; Psalm 94:10; with לְ decide for Isaiah 2:4 = Micah 4:3; Isaiah 11:4; with בּין, Genesis 31:37 (E), Job 9:33; לְגֶבֶר עִם אֱלוֺהַּ Job 16:21. 2 adjudge, appoint, with לְ, Genesis 24:14,44 (J). 3 shew to be right, prove, with accusative of thing and על person against Job 19:5; with אל person unto Job 13:15; so argue before Job 13:3, and (absolute) Job 15:3. 4 convince, convict, with accusative of person Psalm 50:21 בּ person Proverbs 30:6; with לְ person Job 32:12. 5 reprove, chide: a. of God, with accusative of person Job 22:4; Psalm 50:8; Psalm 105:14 = 1 Chronicles 16:21; with בּ object 2 Kings 19:4 = Isaiah 37:4. b. of man, absolute Hosea 4:4; Ezekiel 3:26; Job 6:25 (twice in verse); Proverbs 24:25; Proverbs 25:12; מוֺכִיחַ בַּשַּׁעַר Amos 5:10; Isaiah 29:21; with accusative of person Genesis 21:25 (E), Leviticus 19:17 (twice in verse) (H), Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 28:23; Jeremiah 2:19; מוֺכִיחַ אֱלוהַּ Job 40:2; accusative of thing Job 6:26; with לְ, Proverbs 9:7,8; Proverbs 15:12; Proverbs 19:25. 6 correct, rebuke, of God, absolute Habakkuk 1:12; with accusative of person Psalm 141:5; Job 13:10 (twice in verse); בְּשֵׁבֶט 2 Samuel 7:14; happy the man whom God corrects Job 5:17; for God loves him Proverbs 3:12; God is entreated not to correct in anger Psalm 6:2; Psalm 38:2. Hoph`al Perfect וְהוּכַח בְּמַכְאוֺב he is chastened also with pain Job 33:19. Niph`al Imperfect לְכוּנָֿא וְנִוָָּֽכְחָה Isaiah 1:18 come now and let us reason together; Participle שָׁם יָשָׁר נוֺכָח עִמּוֺ Job 23:7 there an upright man might reason with him; feminine (passive) וְנֹכָ֑חַת Genesis 20:16 (E), but Di SS read וְנֹכַחַתְּ2feminine singular Perfect and thou art set right, righted, justified. Hithpa`el Imperfect עִםוִֿשְׂרָאֵל יִתְוַכָּח Micah 6:2 with Israel he will argue ("" עִם ׳רִיב לי). Topical Lexicon Root Concept and Scope Strong’s Hebrew 3198 (יָכַח, yākhaḥ) expresses the idea of exposing what is wrong and establishing what is right. Depending on context it may describe (1) legal adjudication, (2) prophetic confrontation, (3) parental or divine correction, or (4) rational persuasion. Roughly fifty-nine occurrences span the Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, Prophets, and Historical Books, creating a unified portrait of God’s commitment to truth, justice, and restoration. Judicial and Covenant Courtroom Usage From the patriarchal narratives forward, יָכַח often appears in legal settings. When God intervened between Laban and Jacob “He rebuked him last night” (Genesis 31:42), settling the dispute in Jacob’s favor. The prophets pick up this legal tone in covenant-lawsuit oracles: Here יָכַח supplies the vocabulary of an impartial Judge who weighs evidence, pronounces sentence, and vindicates the oppressed. Prophetic Reproof and Moral Exposure Isaiah 1:18 presents the gracious side of the verb: “Come now, let us reason together… though your sins are scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. The same term that unmasks guilt also invites repentance and cleansing. In Psalm 50:21 the Lord warns covenant-breakers, “But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face”, demonstrating that divine reproof never overlooks sin yet aims at covenant renewal. Wisdom Literature: Correction as Blessing Job and Proverbs repeatedly teach that reproof is a sign of divine favor rather than rejection: Proverbs 9:7–8, 24:25, and 28:23 link acceptance of reproof with growth in discernment, whereas scorners suffer loss. Thus יָכַח undergirds biblical pedagogy: correction is indispensable to wisdom. Interpersonal and Pastoral Dimensions Beyond divine-to-human reproof, יָכַח supplies the ethical basis for believers to engage one another lovingly and truthfully. Elihu models respectful yet firm confrontation: “I will show you compassionately that God is just” (paraphrasing Job 33:12). Proverbs 27:5 affirms, “Better an open rebuke than hidden love”. These texts support practices such as church discipline (Matthew 18:15–17) and restorative counseling, reminding ministers that correction must combine truth, love, and the goal of reconciliation. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones Isaiah 11:3–4 applies יָכַח to the future Davidic King: “He will not judge by what His eyes see… but with righteousness He will judge the poor and decide with equity for the humble of the earth”. The verb thus anticipates the Messiah’s perfect discernment and impartiality. Revelation pictures the consummation of this ministry when every deed is exposed and justice fully executed (Revelation 19:11–16). Doctrinal Ramifications 1. God’s Character: יָכַח reveals the Lord as simultaneously Judge and Redeemer—exposing sin while offering a path to restoration. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Faithful exposition should both comfort and correct, reflecting the full semantic range of יָכַח. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 3198 highlights God’s active pursuit of righteousness: He convinces, corrects, and converts. Whether in patriarchal disputes, prophetic lawsuits, wisdom instruction, or messianic prophecy, יָכַח testifies that the Lord never leaves wrong unaddressed and always directs reproof toward redemption. Embracing His corrective word leads to blessing both now and in the age to come. Forms and Transliterations אוֹכִֽיחַ׃ אוֹכִיחֲךָ֖ אוֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ אוכיח׃ אוכיחך הַלְהוֹכַ֣ח הֹכִ֥יחַ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ הוֹכֵ֣חַ הוֹכֵ֣חַֽ הוֹכֵ֤חַ הוֹכַ֥ח הוכח הכחת הכיח הלהוכח וְֽיוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי וְהֹֽכַחְתִּיו֙ וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ וְהוֹכִ֛יחַ וְהוֹכִ֥חַ וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ וְהוֹכֵ֖חַ וְהוּכַ֣ח וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ וְיוֹכַ֣ח וְיוֹכַֽח׃ וְלַמּוֹכִ֥יחַ וְלַמּוֹכִיחִ֥ים וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ וְתוֹכִ֥יחוּ וַיּ֖וֹכַח וַיּ֥וֹכַח וּמוֹכִ֖יחַ והוכח והוכיח והכחתיו ויוכח ויוכח׃ ויוכיחו ויוכיחני ולמוכיח ולמוכיחים ומוכיח ונוכחה ונכחת׃ ותוכיחו יִתְוַכָּֽח׃ יֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ יּוֹכִ֖יחַ יוֹכִ֑יחַ יוֹכִ֖יחַ יוֹכִ֣יחַ יוֹכִֽיחַ׃ יוֹכִחֶ֣נּֽוּ יוֹכַ֣ח יוכח יוכחנו יוכיח יוכיח׃ יכיחך יתוכח׃ לְהוֹכִ֥יחַ להוכיח מ֘וֹכִ֤יחַ מוֹכִ֑יחַ מוֹכִ֖יחַ מוֹכִ֥יחַ מוכיח נוֹכָ֣ח נוכח תּ֣וֹכַח תּוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ תּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי תוכח תוכחך תוכיח תוכיחני ’ō·w·ḵî·aḥ ’ō·w·ḵî·ḥă·ḵā ’ō·w·ḵî·ḥe·ḵā ’ōwḵîaḥ ’ōwḵîḥăḵā ’ōwḵîḥeḵā hal·hō·w·ḵaḥ halhoChach halhōwḵaḥ hō·ḵaḥ·tā hō·ḵî·aḥ hō·w·ḵaḥ hō·w·ḵê·aḥ hoChach hoChachta hoCheach hoChiach hōḵaḥtā hōḵîaḥ hōwḵaḥ hōwḵêaḥ lə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ lehoChiach ləhōwḵîaḥ mō·w·ḵî·aḥ moChiach mōwḵîaḥ nō·w·ḵāḥ noChach nōwḵāḥ oChiach ochichaCha ochiChecha tō·w·ḵaḥ tō·w·ḵî·aḥ ṯō·w·ḵî·ḥê·nî tō·w·ḵi·ḥuḵ Tochach toChiach tochiCheni tochiChuch tōwḵaḥ tōwḵîaḥ ṯōwḵîḥênî tōwḵiḥuḵ ū·mō·w·ḵî·aḥ umoChiach ūmōwḵîaḥ vaiYochach vehochachTiv vehoCheach vehoChiach vehuChach velammoChiach velammochiChim venivvacheChah venoChachat vetoChichu veyoChach veyochiCheni veyoChichu way·yō·w·ḵaḥ wayyōwḵaḥ wə·hō·ḵaḥ·tîw wə·hō·w·ḵê·aḥ wə·hō·w·ḵi·aḥ wə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ wə·hū·ḵaḥ wə·lam·mō·w·ḵî·aḥ wə·lam·mō·w·ḵî·ḥîm wə·niw·wā·ḵə·ḥāh wə·nō·ḵā·ḥaṯ wə·ṯō·w·ḵî·ḥū wə·yō·w·ḵaḥ wə·yō·w·ḵî·ḥê·nî wə·yō·w·ḵî·ḥū wəhōḵaḥtîw wəhōwḵêaḥ wəhōwḵiaḥ wəhōwḵîaḥ wəhūḵaḥ wəlammōwḵîaḥ wəlammōwḵîḥîm wəniwwāḵəḥāh wənōḵāḥaṯ wəṯōwḵîḥū wəyōwḵaḥ wəyōwḵîḥênî wəyōwḵîḥū yiṯ·wak·kāḥ yitvakKach yiṯwakkāḥ yō·ḵî·ḥe·ḵā yō·w·ḵaḥ yō·w·ḵî·aḥ yō·w·ḵi·ḥen·nū yoChach yoChiach yochiChecha yochiChennu yōḵîḥeḵā yōwḵaḥ yōwḵîaḥ yōwḵiḥennūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:16 HEB: וְאֵ֥ת כֹּ֖ל וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ NAS: all men you are cleared. KJV: of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved. INT: and before all are cleared Genesis 21:25 Genesis 24:14 Genesis 24:44 Genesis 31:37 Genesis 31:42 Leviticus 19:17 Leviticus 19:17 2 Samuel 7:14 2 Kings 19:4 1 Chronicles 12:18 1 Chronicles 16:21 Job 5:17 Job 6:25 Job 6:25 Job 6:26 Job 9:33 Job 13:3 Job 13:10 Job 13:10 Job 13:15 Job 15:3 Job 16:21 Job 19:5 Job 22:4 59 Occurrences |
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