יָכִין (ya.khin)
ya.khin
Jachin
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Yakin is a personal name found in the genealogies of Israel, specifically within the tribe of Simeon. It appears eight times in Scripture, primarily in 1 Chronicles, Numbers, and Nehemiah. The name identifies a son of Simeon and brother to figures such as Jemuel and Jamin, marking him as an ancestor of the family line known as the Jachinites.
The meaning of Yakin is "He will establish." This etymology reflects a common pattern in Hebrew naming, where parents expressed hope or theological conviction through their children's names. While the text identifies him as the same individual as Jarib in 1 Chronicles 4:24, the name Yakin itself carries the weight of divine stability and future security.
Though not a major theological term, Yakin serves as a concrete link in the ancestral chains that preserve the identity of Israel’s tribes. Its presence in the lists of Exodus and Chronicles underscores the importance of lineage and continuity in the biblical narrative, reminding readers that God’s plans unfold through specific, named individuals across generations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Yakin carries a simple but powerful meaning: "He will establish." In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears as a personal name for members of the tribe of Simeon and later as the name of one of the two pillars at the entrance to Solomon’s Temple. This dual usage connects family lineage with sacred space, showing how God uses ordinary names to point toward lasting stability.
When you read about Jachin in the genealogies, it reminds us that God remembers every individual. These lists are not just dry records; they show that God’s plan unfolds through real people across generations. The pillar named Jachin stood as a visible sign of God’s enduring presence and strength for Israel.
For your faith, this word offers comfort. It assures you that the One who establishes His purposes will also establish you in Him. Just as the temple pillars remained firm, God’s promises to His people are secure. You can trust that He is building something lasting in your life, grounded in His unchanging character.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Jakin3×
- Jakin3×
- to/ Jakin1×
- of/ Jakin1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָכִ֔ין2×
- וְ/יָכִ֣ין2×
- לְ/יָכִין֙1×
- לְ/יָכִ֕ין1×
- יָכִֽין\׃1×
- וְ/יָכִֽין\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 7:21
He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple. He set up the right pillar and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar and called its name Boaz.
This verse identifies Jachin as the name of the right-hand pillar at the Temple entrance, symbolizing divine establishment and strength for the worshiping community.
-
Genesis 46:10
The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
Here Jachin is listed among the sons of Simeon, showing his place in the ancestral line that Jacob brought into Egypt, preserving the tribe’s identity.
-
Numbers 26:12
The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;
This occurrence establishes the 'family of the Jachinites,' demonstrating how individual names became the basis for tribal clan structures and inheritance.