תְּקוֹעִי (te.qo.i)

The word teqo’i is a Hebrew adjective meaning “from Tekoa” or “a Tekoite.” It identifies a person as an inhabitant of Tekoa, a town located in the hill country of Judah. The name of the town itself likely derives from the root for “trumpet blast,” perhaps alluding to its strategic position on a ridge where signals could be heard across the region.

Although it appears only seven times in Scripture, the term carries significant narrative weight. It is most prominently associated with Joab, who recruited a wise woman from Tekoa to help reconcile King David with his son Absalom (2 Samuel 14:2). The word also appears in lists of returnees and temple servants in Nehemiah and Chronicles, marking families that traced their lineage back to this specific community.

As a gentilic adjective, teqo’i functions simply as a geographic marker. It does not describe a character trait or spiritual quality but rather roots the individual in a physical place. Its usage highlights how personal stories, like that of the wise woman, intersect with broader historical records of Israel’s population and leadership.