אֲבִירָם
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤌
Aviram
H48 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Abiram—a personal name applied to two Israelite men in the Hebrew Bible. Functionally, the name means 'the (my) father is exalted' based on the Hebrew semantic structure of personal names. While the precise implication may reference divine exaltation or honor/standing, the contextual use is that of a proper noun, not a common noun or descriptive title.
Semantic Range
a personal name meaning 'my father is exalted' or 'father of exaltation'; proper noun for two Israelite individuals, not used as a title or general descriptive term
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root אָב ('av, meaning 'father') and רוּם (rum, 'to be high, above, exalted'), with a first person singular possessive or an intensive construction implied. Thus the name conveys 'My father is exalted' or 'Father of elevation/exaltation.' The structure is characteristic of many West Semitic theophoric or honorific names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical narrative, Abiram denotes two notable figures: (1) the son of Eliab, from the tribe of Reuben, who—together with Dathan and others—led a rebellion against the authority of Moses (Numbers 16; Deuteronomy 11:6, Psalm 106:17); (2) the firstborn son of Hiel of Bethel who died when his father rebuilt Jericho (1 Kings 16:34), interpreted as fulfilling Joshua's ancient curse (Joshua 6:26). The name reflects a broader pattern in ancient Israelite nomenclature where familial or divine attributes are ascribed as aspirations, blessings, or commemorations via personal names. The clause 'father is exalted' likely indicates honor, divine recognition, or familial status, though 'father' could refer to either the deity or an ancestral patriarch. In English Bibles, the name is transliterated as Abiram without further explanation; the underlying meaning is rarely evident to English readers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָב and רוּם; father of height (i.e. lofty); Abiram, the name of two Israelites; Abiram.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אב, רום (ʾ-b, r-w-m) — father, to be high, to be exalted
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H48-03 |
וַ/אֲבִירָ֜ם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted | 7 |
H48-04 |
וְ/לַ/אֲבִירָ֖ם | velaaviram | HC/R/Np |
and to Abiram | and to Abiram | 2 |
H48-02 |
בַּ/אֲבִירָ֨ם | baaviram | HR/Np |
in Abiram | in My-Father-Is-Exalted | 1 |
H48-01 |
אֲבִירָֽם | aviram | HNp |
Abiram | My Father Is Exalted | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H48-03 |
Numbers 16:1 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֜ם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-04 |
Numbers 16:12 | וְ/לַ/אֲבִירָ֖ם | velaaviram | HC/R/Np |
and to Abiram | and to Abiram |
H48-03 |
Numbers 16:24 | וַ/אֲבִירָֽם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-03 |
Numbers 16:25 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֑ם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-03 |
Numbers 16:27 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֖ם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-03 |
Numbers 16:27 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֜ם | vaaviram-2 | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-03 |
Numbers 26:9 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֑ם | vaaviram | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-03 |
Numbers 26:9 | וַ/אֲבִירָ֜ם | vaaviram-2 | HC/Np |
and Abiram | And My-Father-Is-Exalted |
H48-04 |
Deuteronomy 11:6 | וְ/לַ/אֲבִירָ֗ם | velaaviram | HC/R/Np |
and to Abiram | and to Abiram |
H48-02 |
1 Kings 16:34 | בַּ/אֲבִירָ֨ם | baaviram | HR/Np |
in Abiram | in My-Father-Is-Exalted |