Boy Old Testament Known
Joktan
small dispute; contention; disgust
יׇקְטָן yoq.tan
Joktan (Hebrew: יׇקְטָן, yoq.tan) means “small dispute; contention; disgust”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 6 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Almodad in 1 Chronicles 1.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Joktan
father of Almodad; father of Hazarmaveth; father of Havilah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 6 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 10:25 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 1:23 |
| Cross-references | 54 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Sheleph co-occurrence Appears with Sheleph in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Jobab co-occurrence Appears with Jobab in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Havilah co-occurrence Appears with Havilah in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Hazarmaveth co-occurrence Appears with Hazarmaveth in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Almodad co-occurrence Appears with Almodad in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Ophir co-occurrence Appears with Ophir in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Jerah co-occurrence Appears with Jerah in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Peleg co-occurrence Appears with Peleg in 1 Chronicles 1.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.25;
son of: Eber (H5677);
brother of: Peleg (H6389);
father of: Almodad (H0486), Sheleph (H8026), Hazarmaveth (H2700), Jerah (H3392), Hadoram (H1913A), Uzal (H0187), Diklah (H1853), Obal (H5745), Abimael (H0039), Sheba (H7614H), Ophir (H0211), Havilah (H2341I) and Jobab (H3103)
§ Joktan = "smallness"
son of Eber and descendant of Shem and patriarch of various Arabian tribes
Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber, was the ancestor of several Arabian tribes.
The biblical story
Joktan is mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1 as a descendant of Shem, the son of Noah. He was the son of Eber and the brother of Peleg (Gen.10.25; 1Ch.1.19). The biblical record states that in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided, possibly referring to the division of languages and nations at the Tower of Babel (Gen.10.25).
Joktan is described as the ancestor of several Arabian tribes. Gen.10.26-29 and 1Ch.1.20-23 list his 13 sons: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. These names are associated with various regions in Arabia, suggesting that Joktan's descendants settled in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
The mention of Joktan and his sons in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) serves to highlight the diversity of peoples and nations that descended from Noah's sons after the Flood. It also demonstrates the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Gen.9.1).
Although no further details are provided about Joktan's life or his relationship with his descendants, his inclusion in the biblical genealogies emphasizes the connection between the Semitic peoples and the Arabian tribes. It also underscores the importance of genealogical records in ancient Near Eastern societies for establishing family ties and tracing the origins of nations.
Key verses
Joktan appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
Genesis 10:25 -
And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
Genesis 10:26 -
And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
Genesis 10:29 -
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan.
1 Chronicles 1:19 -
And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
1 Chronicles 1:20
Show all 6 references
Genesis (3)
- Genesis 10:25
- Genesis 10:26
- Genesis 10:29
1 Chronicles (3)
- 1 Chronicles 1:19
- 1 Chronicles 1:20
- 1 Chronicles 1:23