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אָחוֹת

𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤕

ʼâchôwth

H269 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָח to be related as kin, to be a brother/sister, sibling relationship

Definition

Female sibling; a woman related by birth to the same parents as another, or in broader usage, to members of a kin group. The term can also denote close female kin such as half-sisters, stepsisters, or even more distant relatives, depending on context. By extension, it can refer metaphorically to a woman who is considered an associate, fellow group member, or compatriot.

Semantic Range

sister by blood, female kin, half-sister, female compatriot, close female companion, metaphorical sister (e.g., allegorical use in prophecy or poetry)

Root / Etymology

From the root אח (aleph-chet), which means 'brother' or 'to be related as brothers or kin.' אָחוֹת is the standard feminine nominal form of this root, denoting 'sister.' The formation is regular for a feminine noun in Hebrew, using the -ות suffix.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, אָחוֹת would primarily refer to a biological sister but could extend to close female relatives within the extended household. The word occurs in legal, genealogical, and narrative contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, including both literal and figurative usages. For example, it describes both the physical sister in family narratives (e.g., Miriam, sister of Moses) and metaphorical relationships, such as Israel and Judah called sisters in prophetic literature, indicating a close but differentiated relationship. In some post-exilic and poetic texts, אָחוֹת is used of fellow women or allied groups, sometimes in parallel with female friendship or alliance. Unlike English, the ancient term is not typically used for unrelated women except in poetic or metaphorical invocations. English translations typically render אָחוֹת as 'sister,' but occasionally as 'kinswoman' or 'companion' when the context requires.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אח (ʾ-ḥ) — kinship, sibling relationship, brotherhood/sisterhood

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H251 אָח brother
H252 אַח your brothers
H253 אָח brother
H254 אָח the firepot
H255 אֹחַ howling wild creatures

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H269-05 אֲח֛וֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of 19
H269-12 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister 18
H269-06 אֲחֹתָ֑/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her sister her sister 17
H269-13 אֲחֹת/וֹ֒ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister 13
H269-07 אֲחֹתָ֖/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister 11
H269-10 אֲחוֹתֵ֜/ךְ achotekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your sister your sister 7
H269-23 וַֽ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc and sister and sister of 5
H269-11 אֲחֹתֵ֕/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister 3
H269-09 אֲחֽוֹתְ/ךָ֤ achotekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms she is your sister your sister 2
H269-08 אֲחוֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ achotayikhe HNcfpc/Sp2fs sisters your sisters 2

Occurrences in Scripture

119 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H269-23 Genesis 4:22 וַֽ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc and the sister and sister of
H269-12 Genesis 12:13 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 12:19 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:2 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:5 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:12 אֲחֹתִ֤/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister
H269-13 Genesis 24:30 אֲחֹת/וֹ֒ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister
H269-13 Genesis 24:30 אֲחֹת/וֹ֙ achoto-2 HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister
H269-07 Genesis 24:59 אֲחֹתָ֖/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister
H269-11 Genesis 24:60 אֲחֹתֵ֕/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister
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