אֲבִידָע
Abida, a son of Abraham by Keturah
Definition
Abida is a proper name meaning 'father of knowledge' or 'my father knows.' He is identified as a son of Midian and a grandson of Abraham through his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:4, 1 Chronicles 1:33). As a descendant of Abraham, Abida represents one of the many lines of progeny through which God's promise to make Abraham a father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-5) was partially fulfilled, though the primary covenant lineage continued through Isaac. His mention in the genealogical records serves to document the expansive reach of Abraham's family into the Arabian tribes.
Biblical Usage
The name Abida appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in genealogical lists. It is found in the list of Abraham's descendants through Keturah in Genesis 25:4 and is repeated in the parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1:33. Its usage is strictly as a personal name for a specific individual within these historical family records.
Etymology
The name אֲבִידָע (ʼĂbîydâʻ) is a compound of two Hebrew elements: אָב (ʼāv, H1), meaning 'father,' and the verb יָדַע (yādaʻ, H3045), meaning 'to know.' It is a theophoric name, meaning it incorporates a divine element—here, 'father' likely refers to God. Thus, the name signifies 'the Father (God) knows' or 'father of knowledge,' expressing a theological truth about God's omniscience.
Semantic Range
While Abida himself is a minor genealogical figure, his name carries theological weight. As a 'father of knowledge,' it subtly points to God as the source of all true knowledge and understanding. His placement in Abraham's lineage through Keturah highlights the theme that God's blessings extended beyond the covenant line of Isaac, demonstrating the partial fulfillment of the promise that Abraham would be a father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-5). This enriches the reading of these genealogies by showing they are not mere lists but narratives of God's expansive faithfulness.
In ancient Semitic culture, names were often descriptive or expressed a hope or characteristic. A name like 'Father of knowledge' would have been significant, possibly indicating a hoped-for trait of wisdom or an acknowledgment of divine insight within the family. As a descendant of Abraham through a secondary wife, Abida's lineage was part of the tribal networks of the Arabian Peninsula, distinct from the Israelite line that came through Isaac.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. However, it shares the theophoric element 'Abi' (father) with names like: Abijah (אֲבִיָּה, H29) — 'Yahweh is my father'; Abimelech (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, H40) — 'my father is king'.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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