אֲבִישָׁלוֹם
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤌
Avishalom
H53 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'the father is well-being' or 'the father is peace.' Used as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible, most notably referring to the third son of King David. The name combines elements denoting 'father' and 'peace/well-being,' thus expressing a positive wish or statement concerning the father figure. Aside from this prominent usage, the name appears as a patronymic for other, less prominent individuals.
Semantic Range
proper personal name, father of peace, (the) father is well-being, a son of David, patronymic
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root אָב (av, 'father') and שָׁלוֹם (shalom, 'peace, well-being, completeness'). The name is a compound typical of personal names in biblical Hebrew, expressing a nominal phrase or wish. The shortened form אַבְשָׁלוֹם (Avshalom) and fuller form אֲבִישָׁלוֹם ('Avishalom') are linguistically equivalent, varying only in length and vocalization.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֲבִישָׁלוֹם/אַבְשָׁלוֹם (Avishalom/Avshalom) is most famously the third son of David, whose revolt against his father is recorded in 2 Samuel 13–19—his character is complex, and the name itself does not comment upon this. The name also appears as a patronymic for Maachah, queen mother of King Asa of Judah (1 Kings 15:2,10), suggesting continued use of the name in the monarchic period. The Greek tradition renders the name Ἀβεσσαλώμ (Abessalōm), which in turn gave rise to the traditional English 'Absalom,' though this loses the semantic transparency of the Hebrew. The meaning 'father of peace' or derivatively 'the father is well-being' reflects the positive, honorific character often found in personal names of this period, but the name used for David’s son did not reflect his fate or character. The English word 'Jew' is not connected with the figure of Absalom, who is an Israelite prince and later figureheads bearing the name are of unclear tribal provenance. English translations may render both Avishalom and Avshalom as 'Absalom,' obscuring distinctions in the original Hebrew forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) אַבְשָׁלוֹם ; from אָב and שָׁלוֹם; father of peace (i.e. friendly); Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite; Abishalom, Absalom.
Bantu Hebrew
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אבשלום (ʾ-b-š-l-m) — father, peace, well-being, completeness
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H53-01 |
אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace | 86 |
H53-04 |
לְ/אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם | leaveshalom | HR/Np |
Absalom | to Father-is-Peace | 11 |
H53-07 |
וְ/אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם | veaveshalom | HC/Np |
and Absalom | and Father-is-Peace | 9 |
H53-02 |
אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם | avishalom | HNp |
of Abishalom | Father-is-Peace | 2 |
H53-03 |
בְּ/אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם | beaveshalom | HR/Np |
Absalom | in Father-is-Peace | 1 |
H53-05 |
וּ/כְ/אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם | ukheaveshalom | HC/R/Np |
and like Absalom | and like Father-is-Peace | 1 |
H53-06 |
וּ/לְ/אַבְשָׁל֧וֹם | uleaveshalom | HC/R/Np |
and to Absalom | and to Father-is-Peace | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
111 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 3:3 | אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-06 |
2 Samuel 13:1 | וּ/לְ/אַבְשָׁל֧וֹם | uleaveshalom | HC/R/Np |
and to Absalom | and to Father-is-Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:4 | אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:20 | אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:20 | אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם | aveshalom-2 | HNp |
of Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:22 | אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:22 | אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ | aveshalom-2 | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-04 |
2 Samuel 13:23 | לְ/אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם | leaveshalom | HR/Np |
for Absalom | to Father-is-Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:23 | אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |
H53-01 |
2 Samuel 13:24 | אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ | aveshalom | HNp |
Absalom | Father is Peace |