אֲחִירָם
𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤓𐤌
Achiram
H297 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'my brother is exalted' or 'exalted brother.' Refers specifically to an individual listed as a descendant of Benjamin and ancestor of a Benjamite clan. The semantic range is restricted to its use as a proper noun, designating a specific Israelite within genealogical lists.
Semantic Range
personal name, ancestor of a Benjamite clan, 'my brother is exalted,' 'exalted brother'
Root / Etymology
The name is a compound of אָח ('brother') and רָם (from רוּם, 'to be high, exalted'). The root אָח means 'brother' in the sense of familial or figurative kinship, while רוּם denotes elevation or exaltation. Thus, the name signifies either the exaltation of a brother or that someone (potentially a deity, in accordance with naming conventions) exalts or raises the brother.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name אֲחִירָם appears in Numbers 26:38 and 1 Chronicles 8:1, identifying an ancestor of a Benjamite clan. The meaning can either highlight the status of the brother or allude to divine exaltation of a familial member. Name formations with 'אח' ('brother of…') are common in Israelite onomastics, frequently expressing close relationships or attributes desired for kin. As a proper noun, its referent is limited to one individual known from genealogical records; English translations occasionally render this as 'Ahiram.' In some traditions and translations, forms like 'Ahiram' or 'Achiram' occur, but none carry additional meanings beyond the personal name's connotation. There is no substantive difference in meaning between the variant spellings. The name does not overlap with later terms for ethnic, religious, or geographic identity, nor is it directly related to designators like 'Judean' or 'Jew.' It remains exclusively a genealogical name for a Benjamite ancestor in biblical records.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָח and רוּם; brother of height (i.e. high); Achiram, an Israelite; Ahiram.
Bantu Hebrew
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אח רום (ʾ-ḥ, r-w-m) — brother, kin; to be high, to be exalted
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H297-01 |
לַ/אֲחִירָ֕ם | laachiram | HR/Np |
of Ahiram | to My-Brother-Is-Exalted | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H297-01 |
Numbers 26:38 | לַ/אֲחִירָ֕ם | laachiram | HR/Np |
of Ahiram | to My-Brother-Is-Exalted |