אֲחִימַן (a.chi.man)
a.chi.man
Ahiman
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ahiman, meaning "my brother is a gift," identifies two distinct figures in Scripture who share this title. The first appears in Numbers 13:22 as one of the three sons of Anak sent by Joshua to scout the land of Canaan. Along with his brothers Sheshai and Talmai, he represented the formidable giants inhabiting Hebron, a detail that highlights the daunting challenge facing the Israelite spies.
A second individual bearing this name is listed in 1 Chronicles 9:17 as a Levite serving at the temple gates during the post-exilic period. While the earlier Ahiman was part of a lineage associated with resistance to conquest, this later figure represents faithful service within the restored community. The recurrence of the name suggests it was preserved across generations, linking the era of wilderness wandering with the restoration of worship.
Translators typically leave the name as "Ahiman" rather than translating its meaning, treating it as a proper identifier rather than a descriptive phrase. This usage distinguishes the individuals from their etymological significance, focusing attention on their specific roles within the biblical narrative rather than the literal definition of their names.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ahiman appears in Scripture as a reminder that God’s work unfolds across generations. In Numbers 13:22, Ahiman is listed among the Anakim, giants who seemed insurmountable to the Israelite spies. Yet Joshua 15:14 records how Caleb drove them out, showing that what looks impossible at first often yields to faithful obedience.
Centuries later, a Levite named Ahiman serves at the temple gates in 1 Chronicles 9:17. This shift from resistance to service shows how God preserves His people through different seasons. Whether facing giants or guarding sacred spaces, each individual plays a part in a larger story of restoration and worship.
When you encounter challenges that feel too large to overcome, remember that God has already walked this path before you. The same God who empowered Caleb to defeat the Anakim is present in your current struggles. Trust that He is working even when the obstacles seem insurmountable, and find peace in knowing His plans endure beyond any single generation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ahiman3×
- and/ Ahiman1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲחִימַן֙2×
- וַ/אֲחִימָ֑ן1×
- אֲחִימַ֖ן1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 13:22
They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
This verse introduces Ahiman as part of the Anakim, highlighting the formidable opposition the spies faced in Hebron.
-
Joshua 15:14
Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Here, Caleb’s victory over Ahiman and his brothers demonstrates God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan.
-
Judges 1:10
Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
This passage confirms the earlier defeat of Ahiman by Judah, reinforcing the complete removal of the Anakim from Hebron as part of Israel’s conquest.
-
I Chronicles 9:17
The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
In this later context, Ahiman serves as a Levite gatekeeper, showing how the name persists in faithful service within the restored community.