יַעְכָּן (ya.kan)
ya.kan
Jacan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name ya‘kan, rendered Jacan in many English Bibles, appears only once in Scripture, in 1 Chronicles 5:13. It identifies a specific man from the tribe of Gad during the period of the Divided Monarchy. He is listed as the son of Abihail and one of seven prominent leaders or chiefs within his tribal group.
Lexical sources suggest the name likely means "troublesome" or "one who causes trouble." This meaning stands in interesting contrast to his role as a respected leader among the Gadites. The presence of such a name in the genealogy highlights that individuals with difficult-sounding names could still hold positions of honor and responsibility within the community.
His inclusion serves primarily to document the lineage and leadership structure of the tribe of Gad. Alongside his brothers Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Zia, and Eber, Jacan represents a specific generation of tribal heads recorded for historical preservation rather than narrative action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jacan appears only once in the Bible, listed among the leaders of the tribe of Gad in 1 Chronicles 5:13. Lexical studies suggest the name may mean "troublesome" or "one who causes trouble." This creates a striking contrast with his role as a respected chief and father of a household.
This detail offers a gentle reminder that our names, reputations, or past difficulties do not disqualify us from God’s service. Even if your life feels marked by struggle or conflict, you can still hold positions of honor and responsibility within the community of faith. God uses people exactly as they are, bringing order and purpose out of complex histories.
When we read these genealogies, we see that every individual matters to God’s record. Your story is not defined by a difficult label or a past mistake. Instead, it is part of a larger narrative where God faithfully preserves His people and calls them to lead with integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Jakan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יַעְכָּ֛ן1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 5:13
Their brothers of their fathers’ houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber, seven.
This verse lists Jacan as one of seven chiefs, showing that despite his name's likely meaning, he held a position of significant leadership and honor among the Gadites.