What does יָכַח (yākaḥ) mean in the Bible?
יָכַח (yākaḥ): Judicial reasoning: to argue, rebuke, or convict by establishing rightness through persuasion or proof.
Hebrew · H3198
יָכַח
To be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue ; causatively, to decide , justify or convict
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יָכַח H3198
Pronunciation yākaḥ
What does יָכַח (yākaḥ) mean in the Bible?
יָכַח (yākaḥ): Judicial reasoning: to argue, rebuke, or convict by establishing rightness through persuasion or proof.
Full entry for יָכַח (H3198) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3198?
The BSB source-word alignment has 59 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include rebuke (5), . . . (3), and arbitrate (2), and He will rebuke him (2), He rebuked (2).
Where does יָכַח (yākaḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (17), Proverbs (10), Psalms (7), Genesis (6).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It rebuke 5× Psalms 50:8, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 19:25, Proverbs 25:12
. . . 3× Leviticus 19:17, Job 13:10, Job 19:5
and arbitrate 2× Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3
and He will rebuke him 2× 2 Kings 19:4, Isaiah 37:4
He rebuked 2× 1 Chronicles 16:21, Psalms 105:14
he who rebukes 2× Proverbs 9:7, Proverbs 28:23
rebuke me 2× Psalms 6:1, Psalms 38:1
A man is also chastened 1× Job 33:19
a mediator 1× Job 9:33
and argue my case 1× Job 13:3
and He will argue 1× Micah 6:2
and judge you 1× 1 Chronicles 12:17
But now I rebuke you 1× Psalms 50:21
cleared 1× Genesis 20:16
complained 1× Genesis 21:25
corrects 1× Job 5:17
could reason 1× Job 23:7
decide 1× Isaiah 11:3
defend 1× Job 13:15
Directly rebuke 1× Leviticus 19:17
discipline 1× Psalms 94:10
disciplines 1× Proverbs 3:12
does your argument 1× Job 6:25
for correction 1× Habakkuk 1:12
has appointed 1× Genesis 24:44
He rebuke 1× Proverbs 30:6
He rendered judgment 1× Genesis 31:42
He will decide 1× Isaiah 11:4
I will discipline him 1× 2 Samuel 7:14
let her be the one You have appointed 1× Genesis 24:14
Let him who argues 1× Job 40:2
let his rebuke 1× Psalms 141:5
let us reason together 1× Isaiah 1:18
might plead 1× Job 16:21
offer reproof 1× Hosea 4:4
prove 1× Job 6:25
Should he argue 1× Job 15:3
Surely He would rebuke 1× Job 13:10
that He rebukes you 1× Job 22:4
that they may judge 1× Genesis 31:37
the mediator 1× Isaiah 29:21
the one who reproves 1× Amos 5:10
to be reproved 1× Proverbs 15:12
to correct 1× Job 6:26
to rebuke them 1× Ezekiel 3:26
will reprimand you 1× Jeremiah 2:19
with those who convict the guilty 1× Proverbs 24:25
wrong 1× Job 32:12
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:16 וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ to cleared Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular Genesis 21:25 וְהוֹכִ֥חַ to complained Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 24:14 הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ to let her be the one You have appointed Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 24:44 הֹכִ֥יחַ to has appointed Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 31:37 וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ to that they may judge Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural Genesis 31:42 וַיּ֥וֹכַח to He rendered judgment Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 19:17 הוֹכֵ֤חַ to Directly rebuke Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Leviticus 19:17 תּוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ to . . . Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2 Samuel 7:14 וְהֹֽכַחְתִּיו֙ to I will discipline him Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular 2 Kings 19:4 וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ to and He will rebuke him Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 20:16
Aligned rows 59
Books represented 15
Genesis 6 Leviticus 2 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 2 Job 17 Psalms 7 Proverbs 10 Isaiah 6 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 1 Hosea 1 Amos 1 Micah 2 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
מוֹכִ֑יחַ 4x mō·w·ḵî·aḥ Job 9:33, Job 32:12, Ezekiel 3:26, Amos 5:10
הוֹכֵ֣חַ 3x hō·w·ḵê·aḥ Job 6:25, Job 13:10, Job 15:3
וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ 2x wə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ 2 Kings 19:4, Isaiah 37:4
וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ 2x wə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ Proverbs 19:25, Isaiah 11:4
וַיּ֥וֹכַח 2x way·yō·w·ḵaḥ Genesis 31:42, 1 Chronicles 16:21
יוֹכִ֑יחַ 2x yō·w·ḵî·aḥ Psalms 94:10, Proverbs 3:12
תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי 2x ṯō·w·ḵî·ḥê·nî Psalms 6:1, Psalms 38:1
אוֹכִֽיחַ׃ 1x ’ō·w·ḵî·aḥ Job 13:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 7x Job 9:33, Job 32:12, Job 40:2, Proverbs 25:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 6x Genesis 21:25, 2 Kings 19:4, Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 11:4
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 6x Job 6:25, Job 13:10, Psalms 94:10, Proverbs 3:12
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute 5x Leviticus 19:17, Job 6:25, Job 13:10, Job 15:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 3x Genesis 31:42, 1 Chronicles 16:21, Psalms 105:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular 2x Psalms 6:1, Psalms 38:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - second person masculine plural 1x Job 19:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Genesis 31:37
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Judicial reasoning: to argue, rebuke, or convict by establishing rightness through persuasion or proof.
Strong's H3198
Lexical occurrences 59 verses Word forms 3 forms 27 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Isaiah 1:10-20 Source Gloss
to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue ; causatively, to decide , justify or convict
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Judicial reasoning: to argue, rebuke, or convict by establishing rightness through persuasion or proof.
to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict BDB: decide Usage: appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 27
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 25×
Imperfect Isa 11:3 · Job 6:25 · Job 13:10 · Prov 3:12 · Prov 30:6 · Ps 94:10 · Job 13:15 · Lev 19:17 8×
Participle active Amos 5:10 · Ezek 3:26 · Job 9:33 · Job 32:12 · Job 40:2 · Prov 25:12 · Prov 28:23 7×
Infinitive absolute Job 6:25 · Job 13:10 · Job 15:3 · Lev 19:17 · Prov 15:12 5×
Perfect Gen 24:14 · Gen 24:44 2×
Jussive Hos 4:4 · Prov 9:8 2×
Sequential imperfect Prov 9:8 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Participle active Job 23:7 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Imperfect Mic 6:2 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God invites rational argument and dialogue about justice and moral accountability
Direct correction of a neighbor's wrongdoing as ethical duty and expression of love
Wise correction to a receptive ear is valuable and precious like gold or jewelry
Later honest rebuke finds more favor than flattery or deceptive concealment
Correction of a mocker produces abuse while instruction of wise person brings learning
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 59 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָכַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain