Yocheved

Many have the practice to recite, in the prayer following Shemoneh Esrei, a verse that starts and ends with the same letter as their name, or that contains their name, or both. This is considered a source of merit. In this series, we will briefly analyze these verses.

ה’ יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד

Hashem will reign forever and ever. - Exodus 15:18

In his Aramaic paraphrase of the verse for the name Yocheved, Onkelos renders it, "Hashem: His kingdom endures now and forever." His reasons for changing the tense from the future to the present are the point of some discussion among the commentators but it would appear that he wished to clarify for the readers that G-d's eternal rule is not an event that will begin in the future (Hashem will reign forever and ever). Rather, it is something that is always happening, and always will (His kingdom endures now and forever).

Verses for women's names may be found in the book Rigshei Lev by Rabbi Menachem Nissel, based upon Tefillah Yesharah/The Boston Siddur.