תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah)
tiq.vah
Tikvah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tikvah, derived from the Hebrew root meaning "hope," appears only three times in the Old Testament as a personal identifier. It belongs to two distinct individuals separated by centuries: one is the father of Shallum, husband of the prophetess Huldah during King Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22), and the other is the father of Jahaziah among those who returned from exile (Ezra 10:15).
While the common noun tiqvah denotes expectation or hope, its use here as a proper name likely reflects a theological aspiration rather than a mere description. The variation in spelling between Tikvah and Tokhath in Chronicles highlights the textual transmission of these genealogical records. In both instances, the bearers of this name are linked to pivotal moments of religious reform and restoration, anchoring the concept of hope within specific historical acts of covenant faithfulness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tikvah carries a quiet but powerful weight, rooted in the Hebrew word for hope. It appears in the Bible not as a grand title for kings or prophets, but attached to ordinary men who played specific roles in God’s unfolding story. One bearer was the husband of Huldah, the prophetess consulted during King Josiah’s religious reforms. Another fathered Jahaziah, a man who stood firm when others wavered after the exile.
This name reminds us that hope is not just a feeling for the future; it is a stance taken in the present. It belongs to those who participate in restoration and covenant faithfulness. When we encounter this name, we are invited to see hope as an active part of our daily lives, woven into our families and communities.
May you find encouragement in knowing that hope has always been a vital thread in the tapestry of God’s people. It is a gift that sustains us through seasons of change and calls us to stand firm in what we believe.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tikvah2×
- Tokhath1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּקְהַ֗ת1×
- תִּקְוָ֗ה1×
- תִּקְוָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her.
This verse identifies Tikvah as the father of Shallum, linking the name directly to the household of Huldah during a pivotal moment of national reform.
-
Ezra 10:15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
Here, Jahzeiah son of Tikvah is noted for standing against the pressure to dissolve foreign marriages, showing hope expressed as courageous integrity.