בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (be.ne ya.a.qan)
be.ne ya.a.qan
Bene-jaakan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Bene-jaakan is a proper noun referring to one of the Israelite encampments during their wilderness journey. The name translates literally as "sons of twisting," a distinctive label that identifies this specific stop in the biblical itinerary.
It appears only three times in Scripture, primarily within the lists of stations in Numbers and Deuteronomy. In these passages, it is often paired with Beeroth to form the fuller place name Beeroth-bene-jaakan, marking a precise location in the desert route.
The etymology suggests a local feature or event associated with twisting, perhaps a winding path or a peculiar geological formation. This concrete detail anchors the narrative geography, reminding readers that the journey through the wilderness included many named stops with specific, tangible characteristics.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The wilderness journey recorded in Scripture is often remembered for its dramatic moments, yet it was also defined by the quiet rhythm of daily travel. Bene-jaakan appears in these itineraries as a specific stop along the way, a place name that reminds us God’s guidance was precise and tangible. These lists are not merely geographical footnotes; they show a faithful presence accompanying His people through every stage of their journey.
For believers today, this detail offers comfort. It suggests that our own paths are known and mapped by God, even when the route feels long or unclear. The mention of Aaron’s death nearby in Deuteronomy adds a layer of solemnity, reminding us that life transitions occur within God’s sovereign plan. We can trust that He is with us in both the ordinary stops and the significant moments of change.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- jaakan2×
- from/ Bene-1×
- at/ Bene-1×
- Yaaqan1×
- Bene-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/בְּנֵ֣י1×
- יַעֲקָֽן\׃1×
- יַעֲקָ֖ן1×
- יַעֲקָ֑ן1×
- בִּ/בְנֵ֥י1×
- בְּנֵי\־1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 33:31
They traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.
This verse marks the encampment at Bene-jaakan as a distinct step in the wilderness itinerary, highlighting the specific order of God's guidance.
-
Numbers 33:32
They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
It shows the movement from Bene-jaakan to Hor Haggidgad, illustrating the continuous nature of the journey under divine direction.
-
Deuteronomy 10:6
(The children of Israel traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his place.
This passage links the location to the death and burial of Aaron, connecting the place name with a significant moment of leadership transition in Israel's history.