Lexical Summary Yorqeam: Yorqeam Original Word: יָרְקְעָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jorkeam From ruwq and am; people will be poured forth; Jorkeam, a place in Palestine -- Jorkeam. see HEBREW ruwq see HEBREW am NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ruq and am Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Jorkeam (1). Topical Lexicon Biblical occurrence“ Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem was the father of Shammai.” (1 Chronicles 2:44) This single reference places Jorkeam (Hebrew Yarqeʿam) inside the Judahite genealogy that chronicles the descendants of Caleb, the companion of Joshua celebrated for his wholehearted devotion to the Lord (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:6–14). Genealogical context 1 Chronicles 2 outlines three main branches descending from Hezron, grandson of Judah. One branch centers on Caleb. Within Caleb’s posterity the writer lists Hebron (1 Chronicles 2:43), Hebron’s son Shema, Shema’s son Raham, and—third in line—Jorkeam. The Chronicler’s painstaking record underscores covenant continuity. Jorkeam therefore belongs to the same ancestral line that bequeathed a heritage of faithfulness stretching from Judah to David, reinforcing the theological point that God preserves a remnant within Judah generation after generation. Possible location In Chronicles, the phrase “father of” often signifies the founder or eponym of a settlement (for example, 1 Chronicles 2:24, 51). Jorkeam is thus best understood as both a descendant and a locality whose earliest inhabitants looked back to Raham as their progenitor. Although the site has not been conclusively identified, its placement in Calebite territory suggests a position in the hill-country region southwest of Bethlehem, possibly near other Calebite towns such as Ziph, Hebron, and Mareshah (Joshua 15:54; 1 Samuel 23:14; 2 Chronicles 11:8). The absence of later biblical or extrabiblical references may indicate that the town was assimilated, renamed, or disappeared before the monarchic period reached its zenith. Historical and covenant significance 1. Continuity of Caleb’s heritage 2. Land, inheritance, and identity 3. Preservation of lesser-known families Theological reflections • God’s meticulous memory. Even a single-verse figure is catalogued in Scripture, highlighting the omniscient care of the Lord who “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4). Ministry applications 1. Valuing unnoticed service Pastors, teachers, and lay believers who labor without wide recognition can find encouragement in Jorkeam’s placement in the sacred text. God esteems faithfulness more than fame (1 Corinthians 4:2). 2. Teaching biblical history Jorkeam’s context provides a gateway to study tribal allotments, the role of genealogies, and the theological purpose behind what may seem like dry lists—an opportunity to show congregations that “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful” (2 Timothy 3:16). 3. Strengthening identity in Christ As post-exilic Judah rediscovered its roots through Chronicles, twenty-first-century believers can anchor their identity in the unbroken account of redemption, recognizing themselves as “fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). Summary Jorkeam stands as a microcosm of biblical themes: covenant faithfulness, inheritance, and the value of every life woven into God’s grand design. His single appearance in 1 Chronicles 2:44 underscores that, in Scripture’s economy, no name recorded by the Spirit is insignificant; each contributes to the unfolding revelation that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations יָרְקֳעָ֑ם ירקעם yā·rə·qo·‘ām yarekoAm yārəqo‘āmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:44 HEB: רַ֖חַם אֲבִ֣י יָרְקֳעָ֑ם וְרֶ֖קֶם הוֹלִ֥יד NAS: the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem KJV: the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem INT: of Raham the father of Jorkeam and Rekem the father 1 Occurrence |
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