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אָב

𐤀𐤁

Av

H1 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Male ancestor; in primary sense, a biological or adoptive male parent. Extends to forebear or distant ancestor—collectively understood as 'fathers' in reference to previous generations. Also used for male head of a family or clan, founder or originator of a profession or tradition. Can denote a respected elder or principal figure of a group. In certain idiomatic uses, represents the origin or source of something (e.g., 'father of violence'). By extension, may refer to God as the ultimate source or progenitor, though this is less frequent in Biblical Hebrew than in later traditions.

Semantic Range

biological father, adoptive father, ancestor, forefather, clan chief, founder, principal figure, head of household, elder, originator, source, symbolic or metaphorical 'father' (of craft, behavior, nation), appellation for God as progenitor, titular element in personal names

Root / Etymology

From the root אָב meaning 'father.' The root conveys the notion of source, origin, or progenitor. The word is linguistically basic in Northwest Semitic languages and attested with cognates in Ugaritic (ab), Aramaic (אב), and Akkadian (abu). The meaning of 'father' appears as an independent root, without clear derivation from more foundational morphemes within Hebrew. The term gives rise to a variety of derivative forms and is also used as an element in many personal names (often as 'Abi-', meaning 'my father is...').

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term אָב is foundational to Israelite society, expressing both immediate paternal relationships and extended kinship structures (patriarchal lines). Plural uses (אָבוֹת 'avot') often indicate ancestors or forebears, with frequent reference to the 'fathers' of Israel—the key ancestral figures in Genesis and Exodus. The title can extend to tribal, clan, or national heads, emphasizing authority or honor rather than strict biological descent. In legal or social texts, 'fathers' are often contrasted with 'sons' to demarcate generations or inheritance rights. Later, in the post-exilic and Second Temple periods, the term develops further honorific senses. Usage in some English translations as 'chief' or 'principal' reflects these extended applications but may obscure the familial or foundational nuance of the original. The phrase 'fatherless' (יָתוֹם, not אָב) refers to the lack of this paternal figure. The use of 'Abi-' in personal names especially reflects familial loyalty and theological affirmation in the naming tradition. The term is not to be confused with the English term 'patrimony,' though specific idioms do reference inheritance from the father.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אָב (Av) — to be a father, to be an ancestor, to originate

Root אָב to be a father, to be an ancestor, to originate

Word Forms

77 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1-02 אֲבִ֣י avi HNcmsc my father my father my father 197
H1-13 אָבִ֔י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father 193
H1-08 אָבִ֨י/ךָ֙ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father your father your father 96
H1-15 אֲבוֹתָֽ/ם avotam HNcmpc/Sp3mp of their fathers their fathers their fathers 86
H1-17 אֲבֹתָ֑י/ו avotayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his fathers his fathers his fathers 76
H1-21 אֲבֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם avoteykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your fathers your fathers your fathers 52
H1-22 אֲבוֹתֵ֖י/נוּ avoteynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our fathers our fathers our fathers 38
H1-14 אָב֔וֹת avot HNcmpa fathers fathers of fathers of 37
H1-26 הָ/אָב֔וֹת haavot HTd/Ncmpa of the fathers the fathers the fathers 36
H1-05 אֲבִי/הֶ֖ם avihem HNcmsc/Sp3mp their father their father their father 35

Occurrences in Scripture

1213 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1-13 Genesis 2:24 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 4:20 אֲבִ֕י avi HNcmsc father of my father father of
H1-02 Genesis 4:21 אֲבִ֕י avi HNcmsc father my father father of
H1-02 Genesis 9:18 אֲבִ֥י avi HNcmsc father of my father father of
H1-02 Genesis 9:22 אֲבִ֣י avi HNcmsc the father my father the father of
H1-13 Genesis 9:22 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his father his father his father
H1-05 Genesis 9:23 אֲבִי/הֶ֑ם avihem HNcmsc/Sp3mp of their father their father their father
H1-05 Genesis 9:23 אֲבִי/הֶ֖ם avihem-2 HNcmsc/Sp3mp of their father their father their father
H1-02 Genesis 10:21 אֲבִי֙ avi HNcmsc the father my father father of
H1-13 Genesis 11:28 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 11:29 אֲבִֽי avi HNcmsc father of my father father of
H1-58 Genesis 11:29 וַֽ/אֲבִ֥י vaavi HC/Ncmsc and father of and father of and father of
H1-08 Genesis 12:1 אָבִ֑י/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father's house your father your father
H1-20 Genesis 15:15 אֲבֹתֶ֖י/ךָ avoteykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your fathers your fathers your fathers
H1-40 Genesis 17:4 לְ/אַ֖ב leav HR/Ncmsc the father of to a father of to a father of
H1-01 Genesis 17:5 אַב av HNcmsc father father of father of
H1-12 Genesis 19:31 אָבִ֣י/נוּ avinu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our father our father our father
H1-12 Genesis 19:32 אָבִ֛י/נוּ avinu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our father our father our father
H1-50 Genesis 19:32 מֵ/אָבִ֖י/נוּ meavinu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp of our father from our father from our father
H1-06 Genesis 19:33 אֲבִי/הֶ֛ן avihen HNcmsc/Sp3fp their father their father their father
H1-04 Genesis 19:33 אָבִ֔י/הָ aviha HNcmsc/Sp3fs her father her father her father
H1-02 Genesis 19:34 אָבִ֑/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-50 Genesis 19:34 מֵ/אָבִ֖י/נוּ meavinu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp from our father from our father from our father
H1-06 Genesis 19:35 אֲבִי/הֶ֖ן avihen HNcmsc/Sp3fp their father their father their father
H1-47 Genesis 19:36 מֵ/אֲבִי/הֶֽן meavihen HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fp by their father from their father from their father
H1-02 Genesis 19:37 אֲבִֽי avi HNcmsc the father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 19:38 אֲבִ֥י avi HNcmsc is the father of my father father of
H1-02 Genesis 20:12 אָבִ/י֙ avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 20:13 אָבִ/י֒ avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father of my father
H1-13 Genesis 22:7 אָבִי/ו֙ aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 22:7 אָבִ֔/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs My father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 22:21 אֲבִ֥י avi HNcmsc the father of my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 24:7 אָבִ/י֮ avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father of my father
H1-09 Genesis 24:23 אָבִ֛י/ךְ avikhe HNcmsc/Sp3fs of your father her father your father
H1-02 Genesis 24:38 אָבִ֛/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 24:40 אָבִֽ/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father my father
H1-08 Genesis 26:3 אָבִֽי/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father your father your father
H1-13 Genesis 26:15 אָבִ֔י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 26:15 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv-2 HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 26:18 אָבִ֔י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 26:18 אָבִֽי/ו aviv-2 HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-08 Genesis 26:24 אָבִ֑י/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father your father your father
H1-08 Genesis 27:6 אָבִ֔י/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father your father your father
H1-43 Genesis 27:9 לְ/אָבִ֖י/ךָ leavikha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms for your father to your father for your father
H1-43 Genesis 27:10 לְ/אָבִ֖י/ךָ leavikha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms to your father to your father to your father
H1-02 Genesis 27:12 אָבִ֔/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-13 Genesis 27:14 אָבִֽי/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 27:18 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 27:18 אָבִ֑/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs My father my father my father
H1-13 Genesis 27:19 אָבִ֗י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
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