3359. Yeqamyah

Lexical Summary

Yeqamyah: Jekamiah

Original Word: יְקַמְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yqamyah
Pronunciation: yeh-kam-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yek-am-yaw')
KJV: Jekamiah
NASB: Jekamiah
Word Origin: [from H6965 (קוּם - arose) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah will rise
2. Jekamjah, the name of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Jekamiah

From quwm and Yahh; Jah will rise; Jekamjah, the name of two Israelites -- Jekamiah. Compare Yhowyaqiym.

see HEBREW quwm

see HEBREW Yahh

see HEBREW Yhowyaqiym

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from qum and Yah
Definition
"Yah will rise," two Isr.
NASB Translation
Jekamiah (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

יְקַמְיָה proper name, masculine in Judah (= יָ֫קֶם יָהּ according to Ol^{§ 277 h, 2}); —

1 1 Chronicles 2:41 (twice in verse), Ιεχεμειας, A Ιεκομιας ᵐ5^L Ιακεμιας.

2 1 Chronicles 3:18, Ιεκενια, ᵐ5^L Ιεκεμια.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

Yeqamyah (Jekamiah) means “Yahweh raises up” or “Yahweh establishes.” The name itself draws attention to the sovereign initiative of God in preserving and elevating those who belong to Him.

Biblical Occurrences

1 Chronicles 2:41 – “Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.”

1 Chronicles 3:18 – “Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.”

(Counting variations in the Hebrew text, the name appears three times but in two verses of Chronicles.)

Genealogical Significance in the Tribe of Judah

The chronicler places Jekamiah in two separate Judahite family lines:
• In 1 Chronicles 2, he stands within the descendants of Hezron through Jerahmeel, a non-royal but important clan that produced leaders in the hill country of Judah. Jekamiah functions as a link between Shallum and Elishama, showing the steady multiplication of the tribe even during obscure periods.
• In 1 Chronicles 3, he is listed among the sons of King Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) born in exile. This positions him in the royal house of David, tying his name to the covenant promises given to David concerning an enduring throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The double appearance underscores God’s ability to “raise up” servants both inside and outside the palace.

Role in the Post-Exilic Royal Line

By recording Jeconiah’s sons in Babylon, the chronicler insists that the Davidic line did not die in captivity. Jekamiah, alongside his brothers, becomes evidence of divine preservation. Although Scripture provides no narrative about his personal exploits, his very existence maintains the continuity needed for later generations culminating in Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:19) and ultimately the Messiah (Matthew 1:12-16; Luke 3:27).

Historical and Theological Themes

1. Preservation of Promise – Jekamiah’s name within exilic genealogy verifies that God’s covenant with David survived foreign domination.
2. Silent Faithfulness – Like many in the genealogies, Jekamiah appears only in lists, yet his place is indispensable. God values faithfulness in obscurity as much as public heroism.
3. Divine Uplifting – The meaning “Yahweh raises up” illustrates a core biblical motif: God exalts the lowly and restores what seems lost (Psalm 113:7-8).

Lessons for Ministry and Faith

• Obscure believers matter to God’s unfolding plan. Even when our accounts remain untold, our faithfulness may be the bridge to future generations.
• Genealogies encourage confidence in Scripture’s historical reliability. Accurate family records testify that redemption operates in real time and space.
• God’s restorative power is not hindered by exile, failure, or silence. He continues to “raise up” men and women who carry forward His purposes, often in ways unnoticed until later.

Practical Application

Serve faithfully where God has placed you, trusting that He may use your hidden obedience to bless descendants you will never meet. As Jekamiah’s brief mention ensured the integrity of the Davidic record, so ordinary acts of devotion today can secure spiritual heritage for tomorrow.

Forms and Transliterations

וִֽיקַמְיָ֖ה ויקמיה יְקַמְיָ֔ה יְקַמְיָ֥ה יקמיה vikamYah wî·qam·yāh wîqamyāh yə·qam·yāh yekamYah yəqamyāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 2:41
HEB: הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ יְקַמְיָ֔ה וִֽיקַמְיָ֖ה הֹלִ֥יד
NAS: the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah
KJV: begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah
INT: and Shallum became of Jekamiah and Jekamiah the father

1 Chronicles 2:41
HEB: אֶת־ יְקַמְיָ֔ה וִֽיקַמְיָ֖ה הֹלִ֥יד אֶת־
NAS: of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father
KJV: Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat
INT: became of Jekamiah and Jekamiah the father of Elishama

1 Chronicles 3:18
HEB: וּפְדָיָ֖ה וְשֶׁנְאַצַּ֑ר יְקַמְיָ֥ה הוֹשָׁמָ֖ע וּנְדַבְיָֽה׃
NAS: Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama
KJV: and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama,
INT: Pedaiah Shenazzar Jekamiah Hoshama and Nedabiah

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3359
3 Occurrences

wî·qam·yāh — 1 Occ.
yə·qam·yāh — 2 Occ.