עַרְקִי (ar.qi)
ar.qi
Arkite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term ‘arqi identifies a member of the Arkite people, one of the Canaanite groups listed in Genesis 10:17 as descendants of Canaan. The word functions as a gentilic adjective, meaning it denotes origin or ethnicity rather than describing an action or quality. In these genealogical records, the Arkites appear alongside other distinct groups such as the Sidonians and Hittites, helping to map the tribal landscape of the ancient Near East.
Lexical sources connect the name to the city of Arka (or ‘Arqa), a location in northern Lebanon. While some older etymologies suggest a root meaning "gnawing," this interpretation is less certain than the geographical link to the settlement itself. The term simply marks someone as an inhabitant of that specific place.
This word occurs only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in 1 Chronicles 1:13 and 1 Chronicles 1:16. These verses repeat the genealogies found earlier in Genesis, listing the Arkites among the sons and grandsons of Canaan. The repetition serves to reinforce the historical identity of these peoples within the broader narrative of Israel’s ancestors.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Arkite appears in the detailed family records of Genesis and Chronicles, identifying a specific people group descended from Canaan. These lists may seem like dry genealogies, but they serve as a reminder that God’s plan for history includes every nation and tribe. By recording these names, Scripture affirms the distinct identity of ancient peoples while situating them within the broader story of humanity.
For modern readers, this word highlights the richness of the ancient Near Eastern landscape. It points to a community rooted in a specific place, likely near Arka in northern Lebanon. Recognizing these groups helps us appreciate the complexity of the world into which Israel emerged, showing that God’s redemptive work unfolds within a diverse and interconnected human family.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Arkite[s]2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַֽ/עַרְקִ֖י2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 10:17
the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,
This verse places the Arkites in the foundational genealogy of Canaan's descendants, establishing their ethnic origin alongside other prominent groups.
-
I Chronicles 1:15
the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,
The repetition of this list in Chronicles reinforces the historical continuity and identity of the Arkites within Israel’s ancestral records.