אַחְאָב (ach.av)
ach.av
Ahab
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 79 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name אַחְאָב, transliterated as Ahab, means "father's brother" or "friend of his father." It appears seventy-nine times in Scripture, primarily within the historical accounts of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. The name identifies two distinct figures: the most prominent is the seventh king of the northern Kingdom of Israel, son of Omri; a second, lesser-known figure is a false prophet living in Babylon during the time of Jeremiah.
Ahab’s reign is characterized by his marriage to Jezebel and his promotion of Baal worship, which placed him in direct conflict with the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The biblical narrative presents him as a ruler whose political alliances and religious compromises defined his era. His story concludes with his death in battle against the Arameans, fulfilling prophetic warnings recorded in 1 Kings 22.
The name also surfaces in Jeremiah 29:22, where it refers to the false prophet mentioned above. In this context, the prophet is cited as an example of deceit among the exiles in Babylon, showing how the same personal name was used for individuals with vastly different roles and moral standings in Israel’s history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ahab appears seventy-nine times in Scripture, marking him as one of the most prominent kings of Israel. His story serves as a sobering reminder of how leadership choices shape entire nations. By marrying Jezebel and promoting Baal worship, he led the people away from Yahweh, inviting divine judgment upon the kingdom.
Yet his narrative is not merely about failure. It highlights the tension between political convenience and spiritual fidelity. When Elijah confronted him, Ahab’s response revealed a heart that was hard yet still responsive to God’s power. This word reminds us that our influence extends beyond ourselves, affecting those under our care.
We see in his life the danger of compromising truth for stability. His reign ended in battle, fulfilling prophetic warnings. Still, the text records these events to teach future generations about the cost of idolatry and the necessity of standing firm in faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 79 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ahab79×
- to/ Ahab5×
- of/ Ahab3×
- like/ Ahab1×
- and/ like/ Ahab1×
- and/ [belonged] to/ Ahab1×
- and/ Ahab1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַחְאָ֖ב15×
- אַחְאָ֔ב13×
- אַחְאָ֑ב13×
- אַחְאָב֙10×
- אַחְאָ֣ב5×
- אַחְאָ֜ב5×
- אַחְאָ֗ב4×
- לְ/אַחְאָב֙3×
- אַחְאָ֥ב3×
- לְ/אַחְאָ֛ב2×
- אַחְאָֽב\׃2×
- אַחְאָ֨ב2×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 16:30
Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight above all that were before him.
This verse establishes Ahab’s moral baseline, stating he did evil more than any predecessor, setting the stage for his conflict with God.
-
I Kings 18:17
When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
Here Elijah calls Ahab the 'troubler of Israel,' directly linking the king’s religious compromises to the nation’s spiritual crisis.
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I Kings 20:14
Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”
Ahab acknowledges God’s power in battle, showing a moment where divine sovereignty overrides human military strategy despite his prior rebellion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Ahab mean?
Why is Ahab considered such a negative figure?
Does the name appear elsewhere in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (79 verses across 5 books)
I Kings 42 verses
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
I Kings 16:29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab the son of Omri…
I Kings 16:30Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight above all that were before him.
I Kings 16:33Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did more yet to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of…
I Kings 17:1Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before…
I Kings 18:1After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send…
I Kings 18:2Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
I Kings 18:3Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
I Kings 18:5Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find…
I Kings 18:6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way…
I Kings 18:9He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
I Kings 18:12It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that Yahweh’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and…
I Kings 18:16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
I Kings 18:17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
I Kings 18:20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
I Kings 18:41Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
I Kings 18:42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and…
I Kings 18:44On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up,…
I Kings 18:45In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
I Kings 18:46Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
I Kings 19:1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
I Kings 20:2He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says,
I Kings 20:13Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude?…
I Kings 20:14Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who…
I Kings 21:1After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of…
I Kings 21:2Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my…
I Kings 21:3Naboth said to Ahab, “May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”
I Kings 21:4Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had…
I Kings 21:8So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles…
I Kings 21:15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the…
I Kings 21:16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take…
I Kings 21:18“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he…
I Kings 21:20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to…
I Kings 21:21Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates…
I Kings 21:24The dogs will eat whoever dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the field.”
I Kings 21:25But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, whom Jezebel his wife…
I Kings 21:27When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and went about…
I Kings 21:29“See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days;…
I Kings 22:20Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing, and another said…
I Kings 22:39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he…
I Kings 22:40So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
I Kings 22:41Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.