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אֲחִימֶלֶךְ

𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤌𐤋𐤊

Achimelekhe

H288 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָח, מֶלֶךְ brother, kin; king, ruler

Definition

A masculine proper name meaning 'my brother is king' or 'brother of a king.' Refers to several individuals in the Hebrew Bible: most notably an Israelite priest at Nob during the reign of Saul, as well as a Hittite associate of David. The name expresses a familial relationship to a king, either as literal brother or in a figurative sense of close association or loyalty.

Semantic Range

personal name indicating kinship to a king, actual or figurative brother of a king, name of specific Israelite priest, name of a Hittite contemporary with David

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew roots אָח ('brother') and מֶלֶךְ ('king'), compounding to form a name that means 'brother of a king' or 'my brother is king.' The construction follows a typical Northwest Semitic pattern for theophoric or relational names, although no theophoric element is present here—only the kinship and royal reference.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The most prominent biblical figure named אֲחִימֶלֶךְ (Ahimelech) is the priest at Nob, contemporary with Saul and David (1 Samuel 21–22); he is recognized for his role in aiding David, which leads to his execution by Saul. Another bearer of the name is identified as a Hittite associated with David during his flight from Saul (1 Samuel 26:6), demonstrating the name's occurrence not only among Israelites but also among neighboring peoples. In 1 Chronicles 18:16, a textual variation in the Masoretic Text reads 'Abimelech,' possibly due to confusion with the similar name אֲבִימֶלֶךְ. In English translations, the name is often rendered 'Ahimelech,' although some historic translations (such as the KJV) may confuse it with 'Abimelech.' The name is typical of royal and cultic circles in the biblical period, where association with the king is both a source of prestige and a potential site of conflict. The name is best understood in its specific historical settings, particularly priestly and royal narratives in the First Temple period. Later Jewish tradition and English language have sometimes anachronistically glossed 'Ahimelech' as 'the high priest,' but this specific priestly title is not explicit in the biblical texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָח and מֶלֶךְ; brother of (the) king; Achimelek, the name of an Israelite and of a Hittite; Ahimelech.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אח מלך (ʾ-ḥ / m-l-k) — brother, kin; king, ruler

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H288-01 אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King 10
H288-03 וַ/אֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ vaachimelekhe HC/Np and Ahimelech and Brother-of-a-King 4
H288-02 לַ/אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ laachimelekhe HR/Np to Ahimelech to My-Brother-is-King 3

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H288-01 1 Samuel 21:2 אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-01 1 Samuel 21:2 אֲחִימֶ֜לֶךְ achimelekhe-2 HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-02 1 Samuel 21:3 לַ/אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ laachimelekhe HR/Np to Ahimelech to My-Brother-is-King
H288-02 1 Samuel 21:9 לַ/אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ laachimelekhe HR/Np to Ahimelech to My-Brother-is-King
H288-01 1 Samuel 22:9 אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-01 1 Samuel 22:11 אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-01 1 Samuel 22:14 אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-01 1 Samuel 22:16 אֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
H288-02 1 Samuel 22:20 לַ/אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ laachimelekhe HR/Np of Ahimelech to My-Brother-is-King
H288-01 1 Samuel 23:6 אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ achimelekhe HNp Ahimelech Brother of a King
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