אֲחַסְבַּי

Achasbai, an Israelite

Definition

Achasbai is a proper name referring to an Israelite man, the father of Eliphelet, one of King David's mighty warriors (2 Samuel 23:34). The name appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, identifying him within the list of David's elite military leaders. As a proper noun, it carries no other semantic senses or meanings beyond this specific personal identification. The individual's significance is derived entirely from his familial relationship to a notable warrior in David's administration.

Biblical Usage

The word is used exclusively in 2 Samuel 23:34, within the context of listing King David's 'mighty men' or gibborim. It functions solely as a patronymic, identifying Eliphelet son of Ahasbai as one of these warriors. There are no other usages or patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once) in the Old Testament.

Etymology

The etymology of 'Achasbai' (אֲחַסְבַּי) is uncertain. Scholars have proposed various possible derivations, but none are definitive. It may be of foreign origin or a corrupted form of another name. The name does not have a clear root in common Hebrew vocabulary, which is not unusual for personal names from this period.

Semantic Range

As a personal name from the time of the united monarchy, 'Achasbai' reflects the naming practices of ancient Israel. Being the father of one of David's warriors placed his family within the military and social elite loyal to the king. The preservation of his name in the royal chronicle highlights the cultural value placed on recording lineage and the deeds of warriors who supported David's throne.

Word Details

Scripture References