עַכּוֹ (ak.ko)
ak.ko
Acco
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun עַכּוֹ refers to Acco, a coastal city located in the territory of Asher. Situated north of Mount Carmel and south of Tyre, it served as an important seaport in ancient Israel. The name itself carries the meaning "his straitness," likely alluding to the narrow bay or confined harbor that characterizes its geography.
Although this word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Judges 1:31, its historical significance extends far beyond that single mention. Later biblical tradition and Roman records identify this same location as Ptolemais, a name it held during the New Testament era. This continuity links the ancient Israelite settlement with the later Hellenistic and Roman periods, showing how the city remained a key point of contact between the land and the sea.
Understanding Acco helps readers visualize the boundaries of the tribe of Asher. Its presence in Judges highlights the incomplete conquest of the northern territories, where certain cities remained under Canaanite control despite Israel's efforts to settle the region. The city’s enduring name change to Ptolemais illustrates the shifting political and cultural layers of the Mediterranean coast over centuries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Acco carries a quiet weight in Scripture, meaning "his straitness." It describes a narrow bay or confined harbor, a geographical reality that shaped the city's history. In Judges 1:31, we see that the tribe of Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of this place. This single mention reveals a moment where Israel’s conquest stalled, leaving a coastal stronghold in Canaanite hands.
For your faith, this detail reminds us that spiritual progress is not always linear. Just as Acco remained a persistent presence on the northern border, some challenges in life may linger longer than we expect. The text does not hide these incomplete victories; it records them honestly. This invites us to trust God’s broader plan even when specific battles seem unresolved.
Understanding this word helps us see the full picture of Israel’s settlement. It was not a simple, uniform takeover but a complex process with setbacks and delays. Acco stood as a reminder of the tension between promise and reality. Yet, its later history shows that God’s purposes continued to unfold through these very places, linking ancient Israel to the wider world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Acco1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַכּ֔וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 1:31
Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;
This verse marks the specific failure of Asher to displace the Canaanites in Acco, highlighting the incomplete nature of the northern conquest.