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אֲבִימָאֵל

𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤌𐤀𐤋

Avimael

H39 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אב to be a father, ancestor

Definition

Personal name: Abimael; an early ancestor in a genealogical list (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22). The form appears to mean 'my father is Mael' or 'the father of Mael,' but the second element is of uncertain origin and meaning. Refers to a figure identified as a descendant of Yoktan in southern regions traditionally associated with tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. The semantic range is restricted to a proper name in ancient genealogies, not attested as a common noun or title.

Semantic Range

Abimael (personal name), name of a descendant of Yoktan; possibly associated with an ancient Arabian tribe or lineage; limited to genealogical usage

Root / Etymology

Composed of אָב ('father') and a second element מָאֵל, of uncertain origin, possibly an otherwise unattested name of a deity, person, or tribe. The construction follows a pattern of theophoric or descriptive personal names but the precise sense of the second element is unclear. The root of אָב is אב ('to be a father, ancestor'), while מָאֵל is likely of foreign, possibly South Arabian, origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name אֲבִימָאֵל occurs only in genealogical lists of the Table of Nations, designating a descendant of Yoktan—traditionally associated with southern Arabia. There is no concrete evidence for a tribe or nation by this name outside the biblical lists, but its placement among names with clear Arabian connections suggests either a now-obscure historical group or a literary formula representing ancient southern peoples. The translation as 'Abimael' preserves the Hebrew sound rather than having an English equivalent. Later translators sometimes rendered the name as it appears, without attempting an interpretive translation. The second element (מָאֵל or Mael) does not correspond to the Hebrew אלהים ('El,' God), and should not be conflated with typical Israelite theophoric naming. The identification of Mael with a specific deity or tribe remains speculative in modern scholarship, and it is possible the name preserves a memory of otherwise unattested southern Arabian lineage. The semantic scope is limited to this genealogical, historical context and does not denote a title or office.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָב and an elsewhere unused (probably foreign) word; father of Mael (apparently some Arab tribe); Abimael, a son of Joktan; Abimael.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אב (ʾ-b) — father, ancestor, progenitor

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1 אָב father of
H15 אָבֶה my father
H2 אַב your fathers
H21 אֲבִי my father
H24 אָבִיב his father

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H39-01 אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל avimael HNp Abimael Father-of-Mael 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H39-01 Genesis 10:28 אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל avimael HNp Abimael Father-of-Mael
H39-01 1 Chronicles 1:22 אֲבִימָאֵ֖ל avimael HNp Abimael Father-of-Mael
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