יוֹנֶ֫קֶת (yo.ne.qet)
yo.ne.qet
shoot
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun yo.ne.qet refers to a young plant, specifically a tender shoot or twig. It appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, with two occurrences in the book of Job and one in Psalms. The word captures the fragility and early stage of growth, describing something newly sprouted from the earth.
In Job 14:7-9, the imagery is striking: even if a tree’s root ages in the dust and its stump dies, a new yo.ne.qet can still sprout. This usage highlights resilience and the persistent cycle of nature. The word contrasts the apparent finality of death with the quiet, hidden potential for renewal that remains in the soil.
Its presence in Psalm 147:8 adds to this picture of vitality, where God waters the hills and causes the grass to grow. Here, the term underscores the life-giving power of rain on young vegetation. The word itself is rare, making its appearances in Scripture all the more deliberate and vivid.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yo.ne.qet describes a tender shoot, a fresh sprout emerging from the earth. It appears only three times in Scripture, carrying a sense of delicate new life. In Job 14:7, it illustrates how hope persists even when a tree seems dead and cut down. The image reminds us that renewal is often hidden beneath the surface, waiting for the right conditions to rise again.
This word invites us to look past immediate appearances. Just as a young shoot signals potential life in what looks like barren soil, our own seasons of difficulty may hold quiet promises for the future. God’s care extends to these small beginnings, sustaining them until they grow strong. We can trust that new growth is possible, even when circumstances seem final.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- young shoot[s]/ its1×
- young shoot[s]/ his1×
- and/ young shoot[s]/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יֹֽנַקְתּ֥/וֹ1×
- יֹֽ֭נַקְתּ/וֹ1×
- וְ֝/יֹֽנַקְתּ֗/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 14:7
“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
This verse uses the word to show that hope remains for a tree even after it has been cut down and its stump dies in the dust.
-
Job 8:16
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
Here the term describes how the shoots of a righteous person spread out along a garden, illustrating vitality and flourishing growth.
-
Job 15:30
He will not depart out of darkness. The flame will dry up his branches. He will go away by the breath of God’s mouth.
The word appears in a warning where flames dry up these branches, contrasting the fragility of human life with divine judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word yo.ne.qet mean?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Why is this word significant for understanding hope?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Job 3 verses
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
Job 14:7“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
Job 15:30He will not depart out of darkness. The flame will dry up his branches. He will go away by the breath of God’s mouth.