Ucal אֻכָל
Recipient of Agur's wisdom in Proverbs 30
Who is Ucal in the Bible?
Ucal is mentioned in Proverbs 30:1 as one of the recipients of the wise sayings of Agur son of Jakeh, appearing alongside Ithiel. The identity and exact meaning of the name are uncertain, with scholars debating whether Ucal is a proper name or a phrase expressing Agur's spiritual state, with some suggesting it means "I am weary" or "I am consumed." Some commentaries propose that Ucal might even be the same person as Caleol mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31, though this connection remains speculative. Beyond this single biblical reference, no additional information is provided about Ucal in Scripture. The mention of Ucal underscores Agur's humility in presenting his teachings and establishes the audience for his proverbs about trusting God, avoiding pride, and maintaining integrity.
Biography
Ucal is mentioned in Pro.30.1 as one of the recipients, along with Ithiel, of the wise sayings of Agur son of Jakeh. The name Ucal is of uncertain meaning, with some scholars suggesting it could be translated as "I am weary" or "I am consumed." Others propose that Ucal and Ithiel are not proper names but rather phrases expressing Agur's humility and the intended audience of his teachings. The sayings of Agur, found in Proverbs 30, cover various topics, including the wisdom of trusting in God, the danger of pride, and the importance of integrity. Beyond this mention, no other information is provided about Ucal in the Bible.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentProverbs 1 verse
- Proverbs 30:1
"These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֻכָל | Ucal , a fancy name |
Ucal
erbs, 519 f) that Ucal might be the "Caleol" of 1Ki 4:31 (Hebrew 5:11). Ucal was also explained as "I can," i.e. "I can maintain my obedience to God," just as Ithiel was taken to be "signs of God." Septuagint, Aquila, Theodotion do not take the words as proper names, and so BDB with others point this word as a vb., "(and) I am consumed" (wa'ekhel, for [~we'ukhal). The last three words of the verse are then translated "I have wearied myself, O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed."
See ITHIEL.
David Francis Roberts
u'-el, 'u'el,, "will of God"): One of the sons of Bani who had taken foreign wives (Ezr 10:34). The name in 1 Esdras 9:35 is "Juel" (Codex Vaticanus Ouel; Codex Alexandrinus Iouel).</