← H268 H270 →

אָחוֹת

𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤕

ʼâchôwth

H269 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "sister" 50 occurrences

'Sister' is the clear, natural English equivalent for אָחוֹת given its primary meaning (female sibling) and common metonymic uses (female kin, close female companion, metaphorical sister). It is by far the most frequent rendering in existing translations and fits the full SILEX semantic range while allowing straightforward plural/possessive inflection.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

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

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

Root Family

אָח (ʼâch) — brother, kin, kinsman

Root אָח to be related as kin, to be a brother/sister, sibling relationship
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H251 אָח brother
H264 אַחֲוָה the brotherhood
H265 אֲחוֹחַ and Ahoah
H277 אֲחִי my brother
H281 אֲחִיָּה Yah Is Brother

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H269-05 אֲח֣וֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of sister of 19
H269-12 אֲחוֹתִ֜/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister 18
H269-06 אֲחֹתָ֑/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her sister her sister her sister 17
H269-13 אֲחֹת/וֹ֙ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister 13
H269-07 אֲחוֹתָֽ/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister 11
H269-10 אֲחוֹתֵ֜/ךְ achotekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your sister your sister your sister 7
H269-23 וַ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc and sister and sister of and sister of 5
H269-11 אֲחֹתֵ֕/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister our sister 3
H269-08 אֲחוֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ achotayikhe HNcfpc/Sp2fs sisters your sisters your sisters 2
H269-09 אֲחֽוֹתְ/ךָ֤ achotekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms she is your sister your sister your sister 2

Occurrences in Scripture

119 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H269-23 Genesis 4:22 וַֽ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc and the sister and sister of and sister of
H269-12 Genesis 12:13 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 12:19 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:2 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:5 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs sister my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 20:12 אֲחֹתִ֤/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-13 Genesis 24:30 אֲחֹת/וֹ֒ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-13 Genesis 24:30 אֲחֹת/וֹ֙ achoto-2 HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-07 Genesis 24:59 אֲחֹתָ֖/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister
H269-11 Genesis 24:60 אֲחֹתֵ֕/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister our sister
H269-05 Genesis 25:20 אֲח֛וֹת achot HNcfsc sister of sister of sister of
H269-12 Genesis 26:7 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-12 Genesis 26:9 אֲחֹ֣תִ/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-05 Genesis 28:9 אֲח֧וֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of sister of
H269-13 Genesis 29:13 אֲחֹת֗/וֹ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-14 Genesis 30:1 בַּ/אֲחֹתָ֑/הּ baachotah HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs her sister in her sister in her sister
H269-12 Genesis 30:8 אֲחֹתִ֖/י achoti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my sister my sister my sister
H269-07 Genesis 34:13 אֲחֹתָֽ/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister
H269-11 Genesis 34:14 אֲחֹתֵ֔/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister our sister
H269-07 Genesis 34:27 אֲחוֹתָֽ/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister
H269-11 Genesis 34:31 אֲחוֹתֵֽ/נוּ achotenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our sister our sister our sister
H269-05 Genesis 36:3 אֲח֥וֹת achot HNcfsc sister of sister of sister of
H269-23 Genesis 36:22 וַ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc and the sister of and sister of and sister of
H269-07 Genesis 46:17 אֲחֹתָ֑/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister
H269-13 Exodus 2:4 אֲחֹת֖/וֹ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-13 Exodus 2:7 אֲחֹת/וֹ֮ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-05 Exodus 6:23 אֲח֥וֹת achot HNcfsc sister of sister of sister of
H269-05 Exodus 15:20 אֲח֧וֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of sister of
H269-06 Exodus 26:3 אֲחֹתָ֑/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs another her sister her sister
H269-06 Exodus 26:3 אֲחֹתָֽ/הּ achotah-2 HNcfsc/Sp3fs another her sister her sister
H269-06 Exodus 26:5 אֲחֹתָֽ/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs another her sister her sister
H269-06 Exodus 26:6 אֲחֹתָ/הּ֙ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs the other her sister her sister
H269-06 Exodus 26:17 אֲחֹתָ֑/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs its fellow her sister her sister
H269-09 Leviticus 18:9 אֲחֽוֹתְ/ךָ֤ achotekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your sister your sister your sister
H269-09 Leviticus 18:11 אֲחוֹתְ/ךָ֖ achotekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms she is your sister your sister your sister
H269-05 Leviticus 18:12 אֲחוֹת achot HNcfsc your father's sister sister of sister of
H269-05 Leviticus 18:13 אֲחֽוֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of sister of
H269-06 Leviticus 18:18 אֲחֹתָ֖/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her sister her sister her sister
H269-13 Leviticus 20:17 אֲחֹת֡/וֹ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms sister his sister his sister
H269-13 Leviticus 20:17 אֲחֹת֛/וֹ achoto-2 HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-05 Leviticus 20:19 אֲח֧וֹת achot HNcfsc sister sister of sister of
H269-23 Leviticus 20:19 וַ/אֲח֥וֹת vaachot HC/Ncfsc or sister and sister of and sister of
H269-31 Leviticus 21:3 וְ/לַ/אֲחֹת֤/וֹ velaachoto HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms or for his sister and to his sister and to his sister
H269-22 Numbers 6:7 וּ/לְ/אַ֣חֹת֔/וֹ uleachoto HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms or for his sister and to his sister and to his sister
H269-07 Numbers 25:18 אֲחֹתָ֔/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their sister their sister their sister
H269-07 Numbers 26:59 אֲחֹתָֽ/ם achotam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their-sister their sister their sister
H269-13 Deuteronomy 27:22 אֲחֹת֔/וֹ achoto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his sister his sister his sister
H269-16 Joshua 2:13 אחות/י chvty HNcfsc/Sp1cs my-sister my sister my sister
H269-01 Joshua 2:13 אַחְיוֹתַ֔/י acheyotay HNcfpc/Sp1cs my-sisters my sisters my sisters
H269-06 Judges 15:2 אֲחֹתָ֤/הּ achotah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her sister her sister her sister
← H268 Hebrew Lexicon H270 →