Bakbakkar is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Bakbakkar was a Levite who served in the temple, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe of Levi. He appears in 1 Chronicles 9:15, where he is listed alongside Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph. This chapter of Chronicles records the genealogies and assignments of those who lived in Jerusalem after the return from exile, particularly the priests, Levites, and gatekeepers who carried out the work of the house of God.
Bakbakkar is identified in the source note as a Levite who served in the temple. The Levites were set apart among the tribes of Israel for service related to worship and the tabernacle, and later the temple. In the post-exilic setting of 1 Chronicles 9, the Levites were organized for duties such as guarding the gates, caring for the vessels and furnishings, and assisting the priests in the temple services. Bakbakkar’s name appears within a list of men who were heads of families or otherwise notable in their assigned roles.
Scripture says very little about Bakbakkar personally. He is named once in the King James Bible, in a single verse, with no further narrative, speech, or deed attributed to him. What is recorded is simply his place among the Levites who served faithfully in the temple. His inclusion in the genealogy is itself the testimony Scripture gives of him: he was counted among those who ministered before the Lord in Jerusalem.
The Name
The name Bakbakkar is a Hebrew name, but its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from standard lexical sources. It appears to be a rare or otherwise unattested name, and no well-established meaning can be confidently assigned to it. Rather than invent a meaning, it is best to say plainly that the significance of this name is uncertain. What matters for the reader of Scripture is not the etymology of the name but the faithful service of the man who bore it.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be famous, and many of us will be remembered by only a line or two, if at all. Bakbakkar is that kind of person—named once, in a list, with no story attached. Yet he was there, counted among the Levites who served in the temple, doing the work God had given him. Our worth before God is not measured by how much of our story gets told, but by whether we are faithful in the place He assigns us.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 9:15 — And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;