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אַחְלָב

𐤀𐤇𐤋𐤁

Achelav

H303 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלב to be fat, to be rich, to be fertile

Definition

Ahlab is a proper noun designating a specific location in the northwest region of ancient Canaan, later within territory associated with the Israelite tribe of Asher. The name itself appears to connote fertility or richness, likely reflecting the agricultural or environmental character of the area. The term functions exclusively as a toponym in the Hebrew Bible and does not form part of general vocabulary.

Semantic Range

(as a proper noun) town name Ahlab; underlying root connotes fatness, richness, fertility (as seen in parallel with other toponyms based on environmental features)

Root / Etymology

The name is likely derived from the root חלב (ḥ-l-b), meaning 'fat, richness, or fertility,' and may express the idea of land characterized by abundance. However, the place-name itself employs the prefixed aleph (א) as part of the toponym, whose function is uncertain and possibly formative rather than meaningful. The relation of the aleph to the root is not entirely clear, and some suggest it is a phonetic or dialectal variation. Thus, the etymology is tentatively 'from the root חלב, to be fat, fertile,' but the exact morphological formation is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ahlab occurs in Joshua 19:29 as a town allocated to the tribe of Asher and in Judges 1:31 in the context of territorial possessions. Its precise location remains uncertain, but it was situated in the northwest, near the Phoenician border. In the biblical context, the term designates the name of the town and is not used as a common noun. The association with 'fatness' or 'fertility' is etymological, not descriptive of the town in narrative. English translations typically retain a transliterated form (Ahlab), which is appropriate given its function as a toponym. The translation traditions do not attempt to render the meaning of the underlying root in this context. There is no indication in the biblical record of significant shifts or developments in the meaning or usage of the word from the monarchic to post-exilic periods. The name is distinct from the similar term חֶלֶב (ḥelev, 'fat'), which serves as a common noun in ritual and dietary contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same root as חֶלֶב; fatness (i.e. fertile); Achlab, a place in Palestine; Ahlab.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלב (ḥ-l-b) — fatness, richness, fertility

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2459 חֶלֶב in his fat-portion
H2460 חֵלֶב fat of
H2461 חָלָב in milk
H2462 חֶלְבָּה Chelbah
H2463 חֶלְבּוֹן Richness-town Chelbon

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H303-01 אַחְלָ֤ב achelav HNp Ahlab Ahlab the Fertile 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H303-01 Judges 1:31 אַחְלָ֤ב achelav HNp Ahlab Ahlab the Fertile
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