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אֲבִיאֵל

𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤀𐤋

Aviel

H22 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אב, אל father, god (divinity, deity)

Definition

Personal name meaning 'El is my father' or 'My father is El.' The name is composed of two theophoric elements and is used to identify specific individuals in genealogical records within the Hebrew Bible. It conveys affiliation or devotion to the deity El—a common naming practice indicating religious or familial identity.

Semantic Range

personal name; 'my father is El'; 'El is my father'; denotes Israelite individuals; theophoric name indicating familial or religious affiliation

Root / Etymology

A compound formed from אָב (ʼāv, 'father') and אֵל (ʼēl, 'El'—a title for God or the chief deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon). Thus, 'my father is El' or 'El is (my) father.' Both terms are productive in forming Hebrew personal names.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Used as a proper name for at least two individuals within the Hebrew Bible (see 1 Sam 9:1 and 1 Chr 11:32). The combination of familial and divine elements in personal names was common among Israelites and neighboring cultures. The name's structure reflects a common theophoric pattern ('[deity] is [relationship or attribute]'), typical in Iron Age Israel and Canaan. Later translations (e.g., KJV) render the name phonetically as Abiel, obscuring its original meaning and the underlying theophoric elements. There is no evidence that this name signaled priestly or prophetic status; its use marks lineage, not office or religious affiliation. In pre-exilic contexts, 'El' may refer specifically to the chief god or general deity, possibly distinct from later YHWH-centric usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָב and אֵל; father (i.e. possessor) of God; Abiel, the name of two Israelites; Abiel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אב, אל (ʾ-b; ʾ-l) — father, god, deity

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H22-01 אֲבִיאֵ֞ל aviel HNp Abiel My Father is El 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H22-01 1 Samuel 9:1 אֲבִיאֵ֞ל aviel HNp Abiel My Father is El
H22-01 1 Samuel 14:51 אֲבִיאֵֽל aviel HNp Abiel My Father is El
H22-01 1 Chronicles 11:32 אֲבִיאֵ֖ל aviel HNp Abiel My Father is El
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