Bible Dictionary
Jakeh
Jakeh was the father of Agur, whose sayings appear in Proverbs 30. Nothing further is known about him, and the wording of the passage is uncertain.
Definition
Jakeh was the father of Agur, whose sayings are recorded in Proverbs 30. Nothing further is known about Jakeh. His name is interpreted as “pious” or as possibly meaning “carefully religious.”
Biblical Usage
Jakeh is named in the heading or introduction to the sayings attributed to Agur. The wording of the passage is difficult, and the supplied material regards the Hebrew text as corrupt.
Historical Background
One proposed reading connects the passage with Massa, the name of an Ishmaelite tribe or country, but this is presented as an emendation rather than a certain fact.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Pious, the father of Agur (Prov. 30:1). Nothing is known of him.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(pious). [Proverbs, Book Of, Book OF]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ja'-ke (yaqeh, perhaps from Arabic root meaning "carefully religious"; yaqe', as if from qi'): The father of Agur, the author of the sayings recorded in Pr 30:1. Nothing is known of either Jakeh or Agur. The immediate connection in the Hebrew text of ha-massa', "the prophecy" or "burden" (the King James Version "even the prophecy," the Revised Version (British and American) "the oracle") with ne'um, "oracle" (the King James Version "spake," the Revised Version (British and American) "saith") is quite exceptional, while the verse is unintelligible and the text, as the Septuagint shows, is evidently corrupt. The best emendation is that which changes ha-massa', "the prophecy," into ha-massa'i, "the Massaite," or into mimmassa', "of Massa" (Revised Version margin), Massa being the name of the country of an Ishmaelite tribe (compare Ge 25:14; 1Ch 1:30; Pr 31:1 the Revised Version margin).</p><p>See AGUR.</p><p>James Crichton</p>