Lexical Definition

‎יׇקְטָן‎ Yoqṭân (yok-tawn') Joktan ^N:N-M-P
from ‎קָטֹן‎; he will be made little

Joktan.

• § Joktan = "smallness"
• Joktan, an Arabian patriarch

1) son of Eber and descendant of Shem and patriarch of various Arabian tribes

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.25
• son of: Eber (עֵבֵר)
• brother of: Peleg (פֶּלֶג)
• father of: Almodad (אַלְמוֹדָד), Sheleph (שֶׁלֶף), Hazarmaveth (חֲצַרְמָוֶת), Jerah (יֶרַח), Hadoram (הֲדוֹרָם), Uzal (אוּזָל), Diklah (דִּקְלָה), Obal (עוֹבָל), Abimael (אֲבִימָאֵל), Sheba (שְׁבָא), Ophir (אוֹפִיר), Havilah (חֲוִילָה) and Jobab (יוֹבָב)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יָקְטָן‎ proper name, masculine son of Eber, descendant of Shem (DHM in MV compare his name in Arabic tradition, namely †aµtân: the √ √ and being both explained in Muµî‰ by strike, beat; see Lane^1777ff.) — Gen 10:25; Gen 10:26; Gen 10:29 = 1Chr 1:19; 1Chr 1:20; 1Chr 1:23, 'father' of various tribes of Yemen; ᵐ5 Ιεκταν.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Son of Eber • Son of Eber and ancestor of Arabian tribes

Man living at the time of the Patriarchs

Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber, was the ancestor of several Arabian tribes (Gen.10.25,26,29; 1Ch.1.19,20,23).

• A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.25;
• only referred to as Joktan יׇקְטָן;
• son of Eber עֵבֵר;
• a brother of Peleg פֶּלֶג;
• father of Almodad אַלְמוֹדָד, Sheleph שֶׁלֶף, Hazarmaveth חֲצַרְמָוֶת, Jerah יֶרַח, Hadoram הֲדוֹרָם, Uzal אוּזָל, Diklah דִּקְלָה, Obal עוֹבָל, Abimael אֲבִימָאֵל, Sheba שְׁבָא, Ophir אוֹפִיר, Havilah חֲוִילָה and Jobab יוֹבָב.

Joktan is mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1 as a descendant of Shem, the son of Noah. He was the son of Eber and the brother of Peleg (Gen.10.25; 1Ch.1.19). The biblical record states that in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided, possibly referring to the division of languages and nations at the Tower of Babel (Gen.10.25).

Joktan is described as the ancestor of several Arabian tribes. Genesis 10:26-29 and 1 Chronicles 1:20-23 list his 13 sons: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. These names are associated with various regions in Arabia, suggesting that Joktan's descendants settled in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

The mention of Joktan and his sons in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) serves to highlight the diversity of peoples and nations that descended from Noah's sons after the Flood. It also demonstrates the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Gen.9.1).

Although no further details are provided about Joktan's life or his relationship with his descendants, his inclusion in the biblical genealogies emphasizes the connection between the Semitic peoples and the Arabian tribes. It also underscores the importance of genealogical records in ancient Near Eastern societies for establishing family ties and tracing the origins of nations.

All entries for Joktan: יׇקְטָן

Related Profiles:

• Eber (father)
• Peleg (sibling)
• Almodad (child)
• Sheleph (child)
• Hazarmaveth (child)
• Jerah (child)
• Hadoram (child)
• Uzal (child)
• Diklah (child)
• Obal (child)
• Abimael (child)
• Sheba (child)
• Ophir (child)
• Havilah (child)
• Jobab (child)