עֲקָן (a.qan)
a.qan
Akan
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 ʿAqan appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Genesis 36:27 as part of a genealogical list. It identifies a man who was the son of Ezer and a brother to Bilhan and Zaavan. This entry places him within the lineage of Seir, marking him as one of the chiefs among the Horites who lived in the land of Edom before the Israelites arrived.
Lexical sources note that this spelling is an alternative form of Yaʿaqan (H3292). While the name is often interpreted to mean "sharp-sighted," its primary significance here is historical rather than descriptive. It serves as a marker of identity within the complex tribal structures of ancient Edom, preserving the memory of local leaders who were distinct from the Israelite clans.
Because it occurs in a list of descendants, the word carries no narrative action or theological instruction. Instead, it functions as a simple proper noun that anchors the reader in the specific social geography of the region. Its presence confirms the detailed record-keeping of biblical genealogies, which often included non-Israelite figures to provide context for the surrounding nations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Genesis 36 records a list of Edomite chiefs, including Akan, son of Ezer. This name appears only once in Scripture, anchoring us in the specific social geography of ancient Edom. It reminds us that God’s historical record is detailed enough to preserve the names of local leaders who lived before Israel arrived.
For your faith, this genealogy shows that God knows every person and tribe by name. Even those outside the immediate covenant line are part of His broader story. This precision encourages trust in Scripture’s reliability, as it faithfully preserves these historical markers without omission.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Akan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/עֲקָֽן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:27
These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
This verse lists Akan as one of the children of Ezer, identifying him within the Horite chiefs of Edom.