Jogli is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Jogli is a minor figure in the Old Testament, appearing only once in the King James Bible. He is identified as the father of Bukki, a prince or leader of the tribe of Dan. His name is recorded in Numbers 34:22, within the account of how the promised land of Canaan was to be divided among the tribes of Israel. Though Jogli himself performs no action in the narrative, he is remembered as the father of a man chosen for a significant responsibility.
The setting of this passage is near the end of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. After the exodus from Egypt and decades of journeying, the people of Israel were preparing to enter Canaan. In Numbers 34, the Lord instructed Moses to assign the land by lot, and He named the leaders from each tribe who would help oversee its division. These men were heads of their ancestral houses, representatives of their tribes, and they were charged with apportioning the inheritance fairly among the people.
Jogli’s son Bukki was named as the prince of the tribe of Dan for this task. Scripture says nothing more about Jogli himself—not his deeds, his character, or his death. He appears only as the father of Bukki, a link in the genealogical chain that positioned his son to serve Israel at a pivotal moment. His inclusion in the record shows that even those who are merely named as parents play a part in God’s unfolding plan for His people.
The Name
The name Jogli is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from established Hebrew lexicons. Unlike names such as Abraham (“father of a multitude”) or Israel (“he struggles with God”), which are explicitly explained in Scripture, Jogli’s name carries no such interpretation. Some scholars have suggested possible derivations, but no meaning is well established or certain. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is uncertain and should not be guessed at or invented for the sake of having one.
A Closing Thought
Jogli never speaks, never acts, and never appears again after this single mention. Yet his name is preserved forever in Scripture because he raised a son who was entrusted with dividing the inheritance of God’s people. Most of us will live quiet lives that history will not record in detail. But faithfulness in the hidden places—in the home, in the raising of children, in ordinary obedience—can bear fruit that reaches far beyond what we see. Jogli reminds us that God remembers the unnoticed, and that a life spent preparing the next generation is never wasted.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Numbers 34:22 — And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.