Boy Old Testament Rare
Tikvah
hope; a little line; congregation
תִּקְוָה tiq.vah
Tikvah (Hebrew: תִּקְוָה, tiq.vah) means “hope; a little line; congregation”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a prophet. In 2025 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Appears with Achbor in 2 Kings 22.
Which Tikvah?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Tikvah
father of Shallum
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Tikvah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 5 | Falling |
| All-time total | 51 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 7 in 2024 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Kings 22:14 |
| Last appears | Ezra 10:15 |
| Cross-references | 75 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Harhas co-occurrence Appears with Harhas in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Huldah co-occurrence Appears with Huldah in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Shallum co-occurrence Appears with Shallum in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Asahel co-occurrence Appears with Asahel in Ezra 10.
- Jahzeiah co-occurrence Appears with Jahzeiah in Ezra 10.
- Jonathan co-occurrence Appears with Jonathan in Ezra 10.
- Shabbethai co-occurrence Appears with Shabbethai in Ezra 10.
- Meshullam co-occurrence Appears with Meshullam in Ezra 10.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.14;
son of: Harhas (H2745);
father of: Shallum (H7967H); also called Tokhath (Qere. Ketiv: Tokahath; KJV: Tikvath) at 2Ch.34.22;
Also named: to.qa.hat (תּוֹקַהַת "Tokhath" H8445)
§ Tikvath or Tikvah = "hope"
1) father of Shallum, the husband of the prophetess Huldah in the time of king Josiah of Judah
2) father of Jahaziah (Tikvah) in the time of Ezra
Tikvah, also known as Tokhath, was the father of Shallum and the father-in-law of Huldah the prophetess.
The biblical story
Tikvah, also referred to as Tokhath, is mentioned in 2Ki.22.14 and 2Ch.34.22 as the father of Shallum. Shallum was the husband of Huldah, a prophetess who lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah. When Josiah ordered the repair of the temple, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law. Josiah then sent a delegation, including Shallum, to consult Huldah regarding the words of the book. Huldah prophesied that God would bring judgment upon Judah for their unfaithfulness but that Josiah would be spared because of his repentance. No other details are provided about Tikvah's life or role. His mention serves to identify Shallum and, by extension, Huldah, who played a significant role in Josiah's religious reforms.
Key verses
Tikvah appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
2 Kings 22:14 -
And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.
2 Chronicles 34:22
Show all 2 references
2 Kings (1)
- 2 Kings 22:14
2 Chronicles (1)
- 2 Chronicles 34:22