🔼The name Jekuthiel: Summary
- Meaning
- Preservation Of God, God Will Support
- Etymology
- From (1) the verb יקה (yaqa), to be pious or observe, and (2) the word אל ('el), God.
🔼The name Jekuthiel in the Bible
Jekuthiel is one of three sons of the mysterious Jehudijah and her husband Ezrah (1 Chronicles 4:18), and his son is named Zanoah.
🔼Etymology of the name Jekuthiel
The name Jekuthiel consists of two parts, the final bit being אל (El), the common abbreviation of Elohim.
אל אלה
In names אל ('el) usually refers to אלהים ('elohim), that is Elohim, or God, also known as אלה ('eloah). In English, the words 'God' and 'god' exclusively refer to the deity but in Hebrew the words אל ('l) and אלה ('lh) are far more common and may express approach and negation, acts of wailing and pointing, and may even mean oak or terebinth.
The origin of the first part of the name Jekuthiel is somewhat obscure. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) derives it from a possible noun from the verb יקה (yaqa):
יקה
It's not clear what the unused verb יקה (yaqa) may have meant but cognates suggest to be pious and careful of one's religious duties. The noun יקהה (yiqha) means obedience.
🔼Jekuthiel meaning
The post-fixed yod might indicate possession. Hence Jones reads The Fear Of God.
BDB Theological Dictionary reluctantly agrees with Jones' deduction, and reads a slightly more accurate Preservation Of God. NOBSE Study Bible Name List proposes God Will Support.