H2 →

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 27:22 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 27:26 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 27:30 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-45 Genesis 27:31 לְ/אָבִ֑י/ו leaviv HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his father to his father to his father
H1-45 Genesis 27:31 לְ/אָבִ֗י/ו leaviv-2 HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his father to his father to his father
H1-02 Genesis 27:31 אָבִ/י֙ avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-13 Genesis 27:32 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 27:34 אָבִ֔י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his father his father his father
H1-45 Genesis 27:34 לְ/אָבִ֔י/ו leaviv HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his father to his father to his father
H1-02 Genesis 27:34 אָבִֽ/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs O my father my father my father
H1-13 Genesis 27:38 אָבִ֗י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 27:38 אָבִ֔/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 27:38 אָבִ֑/י avi-2 HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-13 Genesis 27:39 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 27:41 אָבִ֑י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 27:41 אָבִ֔/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs for my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 28:2 אֲבִ֣י avi HNcmsc father my father the father
H1-13 Genesis 28:7 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 28:8 אָבִֽי/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-08 Genesis 28:13 אָבִ֔י/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your father your father your father
H1-02 Genesis 28:21 אָבִ֑/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father my father
H1-42 Genesis 29:9 לְ/אָבִ֔י/הָ leaviha HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs her father's to her father to her father
H1-04 Genesis 29:12 אָבִ֨י/הָ֙ aviha HNcmsc/Sp3fs her father her father her father
H1-42 Genesis 29:12 לְ/אָבִֽי/הָ leaviha HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs to her father to her father to her father
H1-44 Genesis 31:1 לְ/אָבִ֑י/נוּ leavinu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp was our father's to our father to our father
H1-44 Genesis 31:1 לְ/אָבִ֔י/נוּ leavinu-2 HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp belonged to our father to our father to our father
H1-20 Genesis 31:3 אֲבוֹתֶ֖י/ךָ avoteykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your fathers your fathers your fathers
H1-11 Genesis 31:5 אֲבִי/כֶ֔ן avikhen HNcmsc/Sp2fp of your father your father your father
H1-02 Genesis 31:5 אָבִ֔/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my father my father my father
H1-11 Genesis 31:6 אֲבִי/כֶֽן avikhen HNcmsc/Sp2fp your father your father your father
H1-60 Genesis 31:7 וַ/אֲבִי/כֶן֙ vaavikhen HC/Ncmsc/Sp2fp your father and your father and your father
H1-10 Genesis 31:9 אֲבִי/כֶ֖ם avikhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your father your father your father
H1-12 Genesis 31:14 אָבִֽי/נוּ avinu HNcmsc/Sp1cp of our father our father our father
H1-50 Genesis 31:16 מֵֽ/אָבִ֔י/נוּ meavinu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp from our father from our father from our father
H1-13 Genesis 31:18 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-42 Genesis 31:19 לְ/אָבִֽי/הָ leaviha HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs belonged to her father to her father to her father
H1-10 Genesis 31:29 אֲבִי/כֶ֜ם avikhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp of your father your father your father
H1-08 Genesis 31:30 אָבִ֑י/ךָ avikha HNcmsc/Sp2ms of your father your father your father
H1-04 Genesis 31:35 אָבִ֗י/הָ aviha HNcmsc/Sp3fs her father her father her father
H1-02 Genesis 31:42 אָבִ/י֩ avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-05 Genesis 31:53 אֲבִי/הֶ֑ם avihem HNcmsc/Sp3mp their father their father their father
H1-13 Genesis 31:53 אָבִ֥י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 32:10 אָבִ֣/י avi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 32:10 אָבִ֣/י avi-2 HNcmsc/Sp1cs my father my father my father
H1-02 Genesis 33:19 אֲבִ֣י avi HNcmsc father of my father father of
H1-13 Genesis 34:4 אָבִ֖י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-02 Genesis 34:6 אֲבִֽי avi HNcmsc father my father my father
H1-03 Genesis 34:11 אָבִ֣י/ה avih HNcmsc/Sp3fs her father her father her father
H1-13 Genesis 34:13 אָבִ֛י/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his father his father his father
H1-13 Genesis 34:19 אָבִֽי/ו aviv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his father his father his father
Hebrew Lexicon H2 →