תְּקוֹעַ (te.qo.a)
te.qo.a
Tekoa
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun teqoʿa refers to Tekoa, a town located in the hill country of Judah near Hebron. Its name means "a stockade," likely describing its original fortified nature. According to 1 Chronicles 2:54, the settlement was founded by Ashur, a son of Hezron, and later rebuilt by King Rehoboam as part of his defensive efforts in the region (2 Chronicles 11:5-6).
Though it appears in only seven verses, Tekoa holds distinct biblical significance. It is best known as the birthplace of the prophet Amos, who was described as "one of the shepherds of Tekoa" (Amos 1:1). The town also features in a narrative in 2 Samuel 14, where a wise woman from Tekoa helps persuade King David to reconcile with his son Absalom. These references highlight its role as a small but influential community within the southern kingdom.
The adjective teqoʿi (H8621), meaning "of Tekoa," appears alongside the place name in some manuscripts, specifying origin or association. The word does not carry abstract theological weight; rather, it grounds biblical history in a specific geographic reality. Christians recognize Tekoa as part of the tangible landscape through which God’s prophets lived and spoke.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Tekoa is a small town in the hills of Judah, yet it holds a surprising place in Scripture. It was home to Ashur, whose lineage connects to the tribe of Judah, and later served as a fortified city under King Rehoboam’s defense plans (2 Chronicles 11:6). Its most famous resident was Amos, a shepherd who heard God’s call from this quiet corner of the land (Amos 1:1). This reminds us that God often speaks through ordinary people in everyday places.
The town also appears in a moment of deep family tension. A wise woman from Tekoa helped King David reconcile with his son Absalom, showing how local voices can bring healing to royal hearts (2 Samuel 14:2). Even in times of crisis, when prophets warned of coming judgment, Tekoa was a place where signals were raised for the people to heed (Jeremiah 6:1).
For your faith, Tekoa offers comfort. It shows that God’s story is not just about great cities or powerful kings, but about real towns and real lives. Whether you are in a season of waiting like Amos or seeking peace like David’s household, God is present in the details of your daily life. You do not need to be famous to matter to Him; you only need to be where He has placed you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tekoa4×
- from/ Tekoa1×
- and/ in/ Tekoa1×
- Tekoa/ towards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּקֽוֹעַ\׃1×
- תְּק֔וֹעָ/ה1×
- תְּק֑וֹעַ1×
- תְקֽוֹעַ\׃1×
- תְק֔וֹעַ1×
- מִ/תְּק֑וֹעַ1×
- וּ/בִ/תְק֙וֹעַ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 1:1
The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
This verse identifies Amos as a shepherd from Tekoa, grounding his prophetic authority in his ordinary life and local community.
-
II Samuel 14:2
Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil; but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
Here, a wise woman from Tekoa is used by Joab to craft a story that leads King David toward reconciliation with Absalom.
-
II Chronicles 11:6
He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
Tekoa is listed among the fortified cities Rehoboam built to strengthen Judah’s defenses after the kingdom split.