אֲבִישַׁג
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤔𐤂
Avishag
H49 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Abishag – a personal name referring to a young woman from Shunem who served as an attendant to King David in his old age. The name signifies the individual rather than conveying a specific descriptive meaning in its biblical context. In the narrative, Abishag is noted for her beauty and role in caring for David during his declining health.
Semantic Range
personal name of a Shunammite woman; specifically, attendant to King David in old age; designation for an individual, not a class or title
Root / Etymology
The name is constructed from two elements: אָב (ʼāv, 'father') and שַׁג (potentially from the root שָׁגָה, 'to go astray, to err'). However, in the context of personal names, the compositional meaning is not always transparent or reflected in narrative use. Thus, Abishag most likely simply functions as a proper name, with its etymology not determining character or role.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Abishag features in the narrative in 1 Kings 1–2 as a young woman of Shunem chosen to attend the aged King David and later becomes the focus of political intrigue involving Adonijah. The etymological suggestion of 'father of error' is probably not intended by the biblical authors and does not appear in later usage; the name should primarily be understood as a personal designation. Standard English translations transliterate the name directly; the narrative context, rather than the etymological sense, defines her role. The usage of the name is unique and appears only with reference to this individual in the Hebrew Bible, providing no evidence for broader semantic development or shifts. There is no evidence that Abishag was intended to be considered a concubine in the sense later found in English translations, though this interpretation developed in some traditions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָב and שָׁגָה; father of error (i.e. blundering); Abishag, a concubine of David; Abishag.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אבשג (ʾ-b-š-g) — personal name, proper noun
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H49-01 |
אֲבִישַׁג֙ | avishag | HNp |
Abishag | Abishag | 4 |
H49-02 |
וַֽ/אֲבִישַׁג֙ | vaavishag | HC/Np |
and Abishag | and Abishag | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H49-01 |
1 Kings 1:3 | אֲבִישַׁג֙ | avishag | HNp |
Abishag | Abishag |
H49-02 |
1 Kings 1:15 | וַֽ/אֲבִישַׁג֙ | vaavishag | HC/Np |
and Abishag | and Abishag |
H49-01 |
1 Kings 2:17 | אֲבִישַׁ֥ג | avishag | HNp |
Abishag | Abishag |
H49-01 |
1 Kings 2:21 | אֲבִישַׁ֣ג | avishag | HNp |
Abishag | Abishag |
H49-01 |
1 Kings 2:22 | אֲבִישַׁ֤ג | avishag | HNp |
Abishag | Abishag |