Bible Word Study
אַחְלַי
ʼAchlay · Achlai, the name of an Israelitess and of an Israelite
אַחְלַי
Achlai, the name of an Israelitess and of an Israelite
Definition
Achlai (אַחְלַי) is a proper name borne by two individuals in the Old Testament. It refers to Achlai, the daughter of Sheshan from the tribe of Judah, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:31. This Achlai is significant in the genealogical record as her father, having no sons, gave her in marriage to his Egyptian servant Jarha to preserve his lineage. The name is also borne by Achlai, the father of one of King David's mighty men, Zabad, listed in 1 Chronicles 11:41. In both instances, the name functions simply as a personal identifier within historical and genealogical contexts.
Biblical Usage
The name Achlai is used exclusively in the genealogical and historical records of 1 Chronicles. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Chronicles 2:31, it identifies a Judahite woman within a detailed genealogy. In 1 Chronicles 11:41, it identifies the father of a warrior in the list of David's mighty men. There is no narrative usage or development of the character; the name serves purely as a record-keeping element within these lists.
Etymology
The name Achlai is derived from the same root as the Hebrew particle אַחֲלַי (ʼachălay, H305), which expresses a wish or longing, meaning 'O that!' or 'would that!' Therefore, the name Achlai carries the connotation of 'wishful' or 'O, if only!'. It is likely a theophoric or hopeful name given by parents, though the specific intended meaning in the biblical instances is not explained.
Semantic Range
While the name Achlai itself is not theologically loaded, its occurrences contribute to important biblical themes. In 1 Chronicles 2:31, Achlai's story is part of God's faithful preservation of the tribe of Judah's lineage, which was crucial for the coming Messiah. Her marriage to an Egyptian servant (Jarha) to continue her father's line demonstrates God's inclusive providence and the importance of family legacy within His covenant promises. In 1 Chronicles 11:41, the mention of 'Achlai the father of Zabad' highlights God's work through a diverse company of faithful individuals, known and unknown, who supported David's kingdom. As a name meaning 'wishful,' it reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of giving children names that express a hope, prayer, or circumstance related to their birth. The act of Sheshan giving his daughter Achlai to his servant Jarha (1 Chronicles 2:34-35) was a legal and cultural mechanism for preserving a family name and inheritance when there was no male heir, a practice attested in other ancient societies. There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. It is etymologically related to the particle: אַחֲלַי (ʼachălay, H305) — a particle of wish or desire, meaning 'O that!', from which the name is derived.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]