יְתֵת (ye.tet)
ye.tet
Jetheth
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yetet appears in Genesis and Chronicles as an Edomite chief, a descendant of Esau. Listed among the "dukes" or regional leaders of Edom, this figure represents the organized tribal structure that existed before Israel had kings. The sources identify him specifically as one of these prominent clan heads, marking his place in the genealogical records of Esau’s lineage.
Its meaning is given as "a nail." This concrete image likely reflects a characteristic of the family or an individual trait, such as steadfastness or strength. In ancient naming practices, such descriptive terms often served to distinguish one branch of a large clan from another, anchoring the identity of the tribe in a tangible object.
Though mentioned only twice, Yetet’s inclusion highlights the historical reality of Edom as a distinct political entity with its own leadership hierarchy. These records serve to trace the fulfillment of God’s promise regarding Esau’s descendants, showing that even the nations surrounding Israel had their own established order and history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Yetet appears in the genealogical records of Esau, specifically listed among the regional leaders or chiefs of Edom. Its meaning is associated with a nail, suggesting stability and strength within the clan structure. These brief mentions highlight that even nations outside of Israel had their own established order and history under God's sovereign plan.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s promises extend to all peoples. The detailed records of Esau’s descendants show that God keeps His word regarding every lineage. It encourages trust in His timing and order, knowing that He oversees the rise and fall of nations just as He does in our personal lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jetheth2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְתֵֽת\׃2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:40
These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
This verse lists Yetet as one of the chiefs from Esau, establishing his role in the early tribal hierarchy of Edom.
-
I Chronicles 1:51
Then Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,
The chronicler repeats this list to confirm the historical accuracy of Esau’s lineage and leadership structure.