אֵחוּד
𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤃
Echud
H261 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a specific individual in ancient Israelite genealogies: 'Ehud.' In context, the name likely conveys the idea of 'unity' or being 'joined together,' though for personal names, the meaning often operates as a connotation rather than an explicit quality. The term does not function as a common noun or adjective in the Hebrew Bible, but is used exclusively as a personal name.
Semantic Range
personal name, 'Ehud'; connotation of unity or joinedness as a possible meaning in naming; no direct common noun or adjective use
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אָחַד (ʼāchad), which carries the core meaning 'to unite, to be one.' The form אֵחוּד (Ehud) is a proper noun derived from this root, though the exact morphological derivation is debated and may involve a passive participial or abstract pattern. The semantic leap from the root meaning to the personal name is common in Hebrew anthroponymy, often implying the bearer is 'united' or possibly 'together as one.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ehud (אֵחוּד) is the name of three individuals in the Hebrew Bible, most notably the Benjaminite judged depicted in the Book of Judges (Judges 3). The name appears within genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 7:10; 8:6). In the biblical context, names with the root אָחַד often carry the sense of unity or oneness, but it is important not to read too much interpretive meaning into personal names. English translations render the name directly as 'Ehud.' The phasing-in of the English term 'Jew' for Judean or Israelite individuals does not occur in these contexts; 'Ehud' is strictly a personal name tied to the Israelite tribal structure of the pre-monarchic and monarchic periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָחַד; united; Echud, the name of three Israelites; Ehud.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אחד (ʾ-ḥ-d) — to unite, to join, to be one
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H261-01 |
אֵח֑וּד | echud | HNp |
Ehud | Ehud | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H261-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:6 | אֵח֑וּד | echud | HNp |
Ehud | Ehud |