Who was Ahio in the Bible?

Ahio was a Benjamite, the son of Abiel (also called Jeiel), and is noted as a re-founder or re-settler of the town of Gibeon. He is listed in genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 8:31 and 9:37.

Why is Ahio mentioned in the Bible?

Ahio's significance lies in his genealogical connection, helping to establish the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin and the history of Gibeon. His mention preserves the historical record of families who resettled important towns after the Babylonian exile.

What does the name Ahio mean?

The name Ahio (Hebrew: אֲחִיוֹ) likely means 'his brother' or 'brotherly.' While the Bible does not explain the meaning, names in genealogies often carried familial or relational significance.

Ahio

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Ahio was a son of Abiel (or 'Jeiel'), a Benjamite who was the re-founder of Gibeon. (1Ch.8.31; 9.37)

Ahio

Biography

Ahio, son of Abiel, also called Jeiel, was a Benjamite listed in 1 Chronicles 8:31 and 9:37 as part of the genealogy of the inhabitants of Gibeon. His father Jeiel is identified as the re-founder or chief settler of Gibeon, one of the significant Canaanite cities that had secured a covenant with Joshua (Josh. 9). The parallel genealogies in chapters 8 and 9 of Chronicles indicate that Ahio was among the brothers of Ner, making him an ancestor of the lineage from which Saul, Israel's first king, descended. This connection places Ahio within the family tree of the royal house of Benjamin, giving him indirect genealogical importance in Israel's monarchic history, even though no independent narrative records his personal deeds.

Significance

Ahio's significance lies in his genealogical proximity to the Saulide dynasty. The Chronicler's repetition of the Gibeonite Benjamite genealogy in chapters 8 and 9 serves to link the tribe of Benjamin firmly to the land and to the larger story of Israel's kingship. Gibeon itself was a theologically important location, the site of the tabernacle and the great altar during much of the early monarchy (1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29). Ahio's family, as inhabitants and re-founders of Gibeon, are thus woven into the fabric of Israel's worship history. His listing underscores the Chronicler's conviction that tribal continuity and geographic rootedness were essential components of Israel's identity before God.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 8:31 1Chr 9:37

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources