אֹהֶל
Ohel, an Israelite
Definition
Ohel is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man, specifically a descendant of King David. He is listed as one of the sons of Zerubbabel in the genealogy of the royal line of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:20). The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun for 'tent' (אֹהֶל, H168). In this context, it functions solely as a personal name, with no direct narrative or action associated with the individual beyond his genealogical record.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 3:20. It appears strictly as a personal name within a genealogical list, specifically in the post-exilic record of David's descendants. There is no narrative usage or broader contextual pattern.
Etymology
The name Ohel is derived directly from the common noun אֹהֶל (ʼohel, H168), meaning 'tent.' As a personal name, it likely carried symbolic meaning, possibly evoking concepts of dwelling, shelter, or the transient life of a nomad, which was a foundational part of Israelite heritage.
Semantic Range
While the individual Ohel has no direct theological significance, his placement in the genealogy of David (1 Chronicles 3:20) is theologically important. It contributes to the preservation of the messianic line following the Babylonian exile, demonstrating God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant despite national catastrophe. Understanding the name's meaning ('tent') can symbolically connect this descendant to the portable, provisional nature of Israel's history before the establishment of a permanent kingdom.
In ancient Israel, names were often meaningful words or phrases. Naming a child 'Tent' (Ohel) may have reflected a cultural value placed on the nomadic origins and wilderness experiences of the nation, or perhaps a hope for God's protective dwelling with the family. This differs from modern naming conventions where such concrete nouns are less common as personal names.
אֹהֶל (ʼOhel, H168) — The common noun meaning 'tent,' from which this proper name is derived.
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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