אֲחִיהוּד
Achihud, an Israelite
Definition
Achihud is a proper name meaning 'brother of renown' or 'my brother is majesty.' It refers to a specific Israelite leader from the tribe of Asher, appointed by God to assist in the division of the Promised Land. His sole biblical appearance is in Numbers 34:27, where he is named as one of the tribal leaders tasked with overseeing the allotment of Canaan's territory west of the Jordan River. The name signifies a person of notable standing or honor within the community.
Biblical Usage
The word אֲחִיתוּד is used only once in the Old Testament, exclusively as a personal name. It appears in the context of divine appointment for a national leadership role. In Numbers 34:27, Achihud is listed among the leaders chosen to distribute the inheritance of the land, following God's command to Moses. This singular usage places it within the Pentateuch's narrative of Israel's organization and preparation to enter Canaan.
Etymology
The name Achihud is a compound word derived from אָח (ʼāch, H251), meaning 'brother,' and הוֹד (hôwd, H1935), meaning 'splendor,' 'majesty,' or 'renown.' It is a theophoric name, though not explicitly containing a divine element like 'El' or 'Yah.' It likely expresses a familial relationship to honor or majesty, possibly implying the named individual is a 'brother' or 'possessor' of noble qualities. Similar name constructions are common in Hebrew, signifying character or divine association.
Semantic Range
While Achihud himself is a minor figure, his role is theologically significant. His appointment underscores God's orderly and communal design for Israel's life in the Promised Land. The act of dividing the land by named tribal representatives (Numbers 34:16-29) highlights themes of divine promise, inheritance, and collective responsibility under God's authority. Understanding the meaning of his name—'brother of renown'—adds a layer of dignity to those chosen for this sacred administrative task, reflecting the honor of serving in God's plans.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaning about a person's character, destiny, or family hopes. A name like 'Brother of Renown' suggested a family of status or aspirations for honor within the tribe. Being selected as a tribal leader for land distribution was a position of great trust and authority, integral to maintaining tribal identity and equity. This single mention permanently associates Achihud with the foundational event of claiming the national inheritance.
אֲחִימַעַץ (ʼĂchîymaʻats, H290) — another compound name with 'brother' ('achi'), but the second element means 'anger' or 'impetuous.' אֲחִיטוּב (ʼĂchîyṭûwb, H284) — a compound name with 'brother' ('achi') and 'goodness' ('tov'), meaning 'brother of goodness' or 'my brother is good.'
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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