עַמִּישַׁדַּי
Ammishaddai, an Israelite
Definition
Ammishaddai is a proper name meaning 'my people is the Almighty' or 'people of the Almighty.' It is the name of the father of Ahiezer, who was the tribal leader of the tribe of Dan during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 1:12). The name appears exclusively in the context of the census, offerings, and marching order of the tribes in the book of Numbers. It functions solely as a personal identifier for this individual, with no other semantic senses or variations in its usage across its five occurrences.
Biblical Usage
The name Ammishaddai is used five times, all within the book of Numbers. It identifies the father of Ahiezer, the leader of the tribe of Dan. Its usage is formulaic, appearing in lists: in the census of leaders (Numbers 1:12), the arrangement of the camp (Numbers 2:25), the record of offerings brought by Ahiezer for the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:66, 71), and the order of march for the tribes (Numbers 10:25).
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'am (H5971), meaning 'people,' and Shaddai (H7706), a name for God often translated as 'Almighty.' The construct form 'ammi means 'my people.' Thus, the name is a theological statement: 'My people is the Almighty' or 'people of the Almighty.' It is a theophoric name, incorporating a divine title.
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name, Ammishaddai embeds a core covenant concept: the relationship between God (Shaddai) and His chosen people ('am). It serves as a personal, daily reminder of Israel's identity as belonging to the Almighty God. Understanding this name enriches reading by highlighting how individual Israelites carried their theological identity, connecting personal lineage to the broader covenant community under God's sovereign power (Shaddai).
In ancient Israel, names often carried significant meaning and were not merely labels. A name like Ammishaddai declared a family's faith and identity in Yahweh, specifically using the title 'Shaddai,' which is associated with God's power, provision, and covenant promises (e.g., Genesis 17:1). It reflects a cultural practice of embedding theological affirmations into personal identity.
Ahiezer (ʼAchîʻezer, H295) — Ammishaddai's son, the named tribal leader. | Shaddai (Shadday, H7706) — The divine title 'Almighty' used within the name.
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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