יִקְּהָה (yiq.qa.hah)
yiq.qa.hah
obedience
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun yiqqaḥah denotes obedience, specifically the act of listening and responding to authority. It appears in only two verses of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 26:5 and Proverbs 13:13. In both instances, the word describes a posture of submission to divine instruction or parental wisdom.
While some lexica suggest a secondary nuance of cleansing or purging, the primary semantic weight in these contexts is relational compliance. The sources highlight that this obedience is not passive but involves active attention to the speaker’s command. This usage underscores the covenantal expectation that hearing God’s word necessitates following it.
The rarity of the term makes its occurrences significant. In Genesis, it explains why Abraham was blessed: he kept God’s charge, commandments, statutes, and laws. In Proverbs, the absence of this obedience is linked to contempt for divine words. The word thus serves as a concise summary of faithful response.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This rare Hebrew word describes a posture of active listening that naturally leads to action. It is not merely hearing a command, but responding to it with care and respect. When we encounter divine instruction or wise counsel, the call is to engage our whole heart in following through.
In Genesis, this obedience explains the foundation of Abraham’s blessing, showing how faithful response opens the door to God’s promises. In Proverbs, the warning against scorn for parental wisdom highlights how rejecting guidance damages relationships and invites trouble. This word reminds us that true faithfulness is shown in what we do after we hear.
May you find peace in knowing that God values your attentive heart. Let this understanding encourage you to listen closely to His voice and to honor the wise counsel given to you by those who care for your growth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] obedience of1×
- <to>/ obedience of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִֽ/יקֲּהַ֫ת\־1×
- יִקְּהַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him.
This verse projects the future hope that all peoples will ultimately submit to the coming ruler, framing obedience as a universal response to divine authority.
-
Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
Here the word describes the specific act of heeding one’s mother, linking respect for parental instruction directly to moral character and consequences.