Ucal is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ucal is mentioned only once in the King James Bible, in the opening verse of Proverbs 30. That verse introduces a collection of sayings attributed to “Agur the son of Jakeh,” described as “even the prophecy” — that is, a prophetic utterance or oracle. In that single verse, the text states: “The man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal.” Ucal is therefore named as one of two recipients of Agur’s words, the other being Ithiel.
The setting is the wisdom literature of ancient Israel, where a father, sage, or prophet would address instruction to a son, a pupil, or a companion. Agur’s sayings in Proverbs 30 include confessions of his own limitations, observations about the natural world, and warnings about greed, slander, and pride. Ucal appears only at the head of that chapter, named alongside Ithiel as one to whom the oracle was directed.
Scripture says nothing further about Ucal — not his family, tribe, occupation, or later life. The source note confirms that little else is known about him beyond this mention in Agur’s sayings. He is not credited with any deed, speech, or decision. His entire place in the biblical record is that of a named listener, one for whom these words of wisdom were first intended.
The Name
The Hebrew name Ucal (אֻכָל) is not clearly defined in the text, and its meaning is not firmly established. Some have proposed connections to words suggesting “devoured” or “consumed,” while others have suggested “able” or “powerful,” but none of these is certain enough to state as the name’s definite meaning. Because Scripture gives no interpretation of the name and the etymology is disputed among scholars, its meaning should be regarded as uncertain rather than asserted.
A Closing Thought
Ucal’s brief appearance is a quiet reminder that not everyone in God’s story is remembered for great deeds or famous words. Some are simply named as hearers — people who stood in the path of wisdom and were invited to receive it. There is no shame in that. Much of faithful life is spent listening rather than speaking, receiving rather than achieving. Ucal was entrusted with an oracle from God, and though we know nothing else of him, that alone is a high privilege. May we, like him, be found ready to hear what the Lord has said.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Proverbs 30:1 — The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,