401. Ukal
Lexical Summary
Ukal: Ukal

Original Word: אֻכָל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ukal
Pronunciation: oo-KAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-kawl')
KJV: Ucal
NASB: Ucal
Word Origin: [apparently from H398 (אָכַל - eat)]

1. devoured
2. Ucal, a fancy name

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ucal

Or mukkal {ook-kawl'}; apparently from 'akal; devoured; Ucal, a fancy name -- Ucal.

see HEBREW 'akal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from akal
Definition
an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Ucal (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
וְאֻכָֿל Proverbs 30:1 read וָאֵכֶל & see כלה.



Topical Lexicon
Entry: Ucal (Strong’s Hebrew 401)

Biblical Occurrence

Ucal is mentioned once in the Old Testament, in the superscription to the sayings of Agur:

“The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the oracle. This man declares to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:” (Proverbs 30:1).

Literary Setting

Proverbs 30 presents a collection of wisdom sayings distinguished from the Solomonic proverbs that precede them. The opening verse functions like the title page of a small anthology. Agur, identified as “son of Jakeh,” addresses (or dedicates) his reflections to two individuals, Ithiel and Ucal. Their inclusion frames the chapter as an intimate teaching session in which a sage delivers hard-won insights to trusted hearers. The personal address heightens the sense that the wisdom to follow is not abstract philosophy but counsel intended for real people who must live faithfully in a complex world.

Identity and Role

Scripture gives no further biographical data about Ucal. His name sits alongside Ithiel, suggesting a fellow learner or possibly a patron who commissioned Agur’s sayings. Jewish tradition sometimes treats the pair as disciples; some Christian commentators follow that reading and see Agur in the role of teacher addressing two earnest students. Others note that the Hebrew consonants could be read as a short prayer (“I am weary, O God… and worn out”), but the Masoretic vocalization and the Berean Standard Bible both regard Ucal as a proper name. Either way, the narrative force remains: divine wisdom is being imparted to receptive hearts.

Textual Background

The appearance of personal names in a wisdom inscription is unusual and therefore significant. Their presence roots the teaching in history and implies accountability: Ithiel and Ucal can verify—and are expected to embody—the truths Agur sets forth. Variants in ancient versions (notably the Septuagint) reflect the ambiguity inherent in the consonantal Hebrew text, yet the canonical form preserved in the Hebrew Bible has been received by both Jewish and Christian communities as inspired Scripture, testifying to the providential care with which God safeguards His word.

Theological Themes Highlighted by Ucal’s Mention

1. Discipleship: The verse illustrates a classical pattern—a wise mentor instructing faithful listeners. The New Testament often mirrors this structure (for example, Paul with Timothy), underscoring the trans-generational transfer of godly wisdom.
2. Humility Before Revelation: Agur immediately confesses his intellectual limits (Proverbs 30:2-3). By being named in the superscription, Ucal is implicitly urged to the same humility, reminding every reader that wisdom begins with reverent teachability.
3. Reliability of Specialized Sayings: The use of personal addressees authenticates the teaching. Much like Luke’s dedication of his Gospel to Theophilus (Luke 1:3), the dedication to Ithiel and Ucal provides a historical anchor and signals that this wisdom was circulated responsibly.

Historical Reception

• Rabbinic Literature: Some rabbis allegorized Ucal, equating the name with Israel’s ability (“he will prevail”) to keep Torah even when weary.
• Early Church: Patristic writers generally accepted Ucal as a historic individual, using the verse to illustrate the necessity of spiritual mentoring.
• Reformation Commentators: Reformers valued the textual transparency of Proverbs 30:1, stressing that Scripture, though addressed to named individuals, remains profitable for the entire church (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Ministry Significance Today

1. Modeling Mentorship: Leaders can emulate Agur by imparting learned, tested wisdom to specific believers. Ucal provides a biblical precedent for naming and investing in particular disciples.
2. Encouraging Accountability: Just as Agur’s wisdom was not delivered anonymously, modern teaching gains credibility when rooted in accountable relationships.
3. Cultivating Humility: The chapter’s opening tension—knowledge sought in weakness—invites believers to admit limitations and seek God’s insight, a recurring pastoral theme.

Practical Reflection

When reading Proverbs 30 aloud or teaching it, one can pause at Ucal’s name to remind listeners that Scripture addresses people personally. The mention of Ucal quietly urges every believer to step into his place: a receptive learner, poised to receive and practice the fear of the LORD that is “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

Forms and Transliterations
וְאֻכָֽל׃ ואכל׃ veuChal wə’uḵāl wə·’u·ḵāl
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Proverbs 30:1
HEB: לְאִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל לְאִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל וְאֻכָֽל׃
NAS: to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
KJV: even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
INT: to Ithiel to Ithiel and Ucal

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 401
1 Occurrence


wə·’u·ḵāl — 1 Occ.

400
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