אֲבִיחַ֫יִל (a.vi.ha.yil)
a.vi.ha.yil
Abihail
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Abihail, meaning "my father is might," appears six times in the Hebrew Bible across different eras and contexts. It identifies several distinct individuals, including a Levite from the wilderness period (Numbers 3:35) and the father of Esther during the exile (Esther 2:15). The name also surfaces in genealogies of the tribe of Gad and as the name of women married into royal or prominent Judahite families, such as the wife of Abishur and the wife of Rehoboam.
This repetition highlights how common the phrase was in ancient Israelite culture, reflecting a reliance on paternal strength or divine power. The sources distinguish between these figures clearly: one is a Levitical leader, another is an exile’s father, and others are ancestors or spouses in the divided monarchy period. Each occurrence anchors the name in a specific lineage without conflating the individuals.
The etymology combines "avi" (my father) and "chayil" (might, strength, or wealth). This construction was typical for personal names that invoked family honor or divine protection. Translators retain the transliteration Abihail rather than translating it, preserving its identity as a proper noun while allowing readers to grasp its thematic weight through the gloss.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Abihail carries a simple but powerful meaning: "my father is might." In ancient Israel, names were not just labels; they were declarations of identity and hope. This particular name reflects a deep trust in the strength provided by one's lineage or, more broadly, by God Himself. It reminds us that our foundation often rests on something greater than ourselves.
Throughout the Bible, we see this name attached to various individuals—Levitical leaders, ancestors of kings, and even the father of Esther. Each person bearing this name played a part in God's unfolding story, whether in the wilderness camp or in the courts of Persia. Their lives show us that ordinary people with names like Abihail were used by God to preserve His people and fulfill His purposes.
For you today, this word invites reflection on where you find your strength. Are you relying on your own abilities, or do you rest in the might of a faithful Father? The stories of those named Abihail encourage us that when we are anchored in divine power, we can stand firm in any season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Abihail5×
- [was] Abihail1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲבִיחָ֑יִל1×
- אֲבִיחַ֣יִל1×
- אֲבִיחַ֛יִל1×
- אֲבִיחַ֗יִל1×
- אֲבִיהָ֑יִל1×
- אֲבִיהַ֕יִל1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 2:15
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
This verse identifies Esther's father as Abihail, linking the name to the pivotal moment when Esther enters the king's presence to save her people.
-
Numbers 3:35
The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.
Here Abihail is named as the father of Zuriel, a leader among the Merarites, highlighting his role in organizing the Levitical duties around the tabernacle.
-
II Chronicles 11:18
Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.
Abihail appears here as the mother of Mahalath, Rehoboam's wife, showing how this name persisted into the era of the divided monarchy and royal lineage.