פְּקוֹד (pe.qod)
pe.qod
Pekod
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 Pekod refers to a specific people group and their territory in ancient Babylonia, located near Elam. Its name translates to "visitation," a term that carries significant weight when applied to nations in prophetic literature. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only once, marking it as a rare but distinct identifier for a foreign entity.
This single occurrence is found in Jeremiah 50:21, where the prophet announces judgment against Babylon and its allies. The text lists Pekod alongside other regional powers, identifying them as participants in the Babylonian military forces. By naming this tribe, the passage highlights the broad coalition assembled by the empire, showing that Pekod was a recognized component of the army's structure.
The connection between the name "visitation" and the fate of these people is notable. In biblical theology, divine visitation often implies judgment or reckoning. Applying this title to a tribe serving Babylon underscores the theme that even powerful imperial forces are subject to God’s sovereign oversight. The word serves as a historical marker for a specific group while reinforcing the theological reality that no nation escapes divine accounting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Pekod appears only once in Scripture, yet it carries a heavy weight. It refers to a people group in ancient Babylonia whose name means "visitation." In Jeremiah 50:21, God commands judgment against this nation as part of the coalition supporting Babylon. This single mention reminds us that every political power and military alliance is subject to divine oversight.
For your faith, this word offers a sobering comfort. It shows that no empire, however strong or complex its alliances, stands outside of God's accounting. When you face overwhelming odds or feel that injustice is winning, remember that history is not random. God sees the rise and fall of nations, and He remains sovereign over all human structures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Pekod1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְּק֑וֹד1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 50:21
“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says Yahweh, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
This verse identifies Pekod as a specific ally of Babylon, showing that even distant tribes are drawn into the empire's conflict and subsequent judgment.