Ἀβιούδ
Abiud
Definition
Abiud is a proper name of a person in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, he is identified as the son of Zerubbabel and the father of Eliakim (Matthew 1:13). This name appears only in this genealogical list, where it functions to trace the Davidic lineage from the post-exilic period down to Joseph, the husband of Mary. As a name in a list, it carries no additional semantic senses, but its placement is crucial for establishing Jesus's legal descent from King David.
Biblical Usage
The word Ἀβιούδ is used exactly once in the New Testament, in Matthew 1:13. Its usage is strictly onomastic (as a name) within the structured genealogy that opens the Gospel of Matthew. It appears in the segment of the genealogy that covers the period after the Babylonian exile, linking the royal line from Zerubbabel to Joseph. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single, list-based occurrence.
Etymology
The name Ἀβιούδ (Abiud) is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name אֲבִיהוּד (ʼĂḇîhûḏ), meaning 'my father is majesty' or 'father of renown.' It is derived from the Hebrew roots 'ab' (father) and 'hod' (majesty, splendor). The provided etymology in the existing data (from ἀ- + 'bioyd') is incorrect; the name is a direct borrowing from Hebrew, not a compound of Greek negation and an unknown root.
Semantic Range
While the name Abiud itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) is theologically significant. It serves as a vital link in the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), demonstrating Jesus Christ's legal right to the throne of David. Understanding that this is a real person in a historical lineage underscores the Gospel's claim that Jesus is the promised Messiah from the line of Judah, anchoring Christian faith in historical reality.
In first-century Jewish culture, genealogies were of paramount importance for establishing lineage, tribal identity, inheritance rights, and priestly or royal claims. The name Abiud, as part of this record, would have signaled to Matthew's Jewish audience a continuous, legitimate Davidic line despite the exile. The Hebrew meaning of the name ('my father is majesty') may have carried aspirational or commemorative significance for the original family, though the Gospel writer does not comment on it.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →