Bible Word Study
אֹהַד
ʼÔhad · Ohad, an Israelite
אֹהַד
Ohad, an Israelite
Definition
Ohad is the name of an Israelite man, specifically the third son of Simeon, who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Genesis 46:10). He is listed among the family members who went down to Egypt with Jacob. The name appears again in the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon recorded in Exodus 6:15. Beyond these two genealogical references, no further narrative or action involving Ohad is recorded in the biblical text. The name itself carries a meaning related to unity or joining together.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper name in two Old Testament genealogical lists. It appears in Genesis 46:10, which records the sons of Jacob who went to Egypt, and in Exodus 6:15, which reiterates the sons of Simeon. There is no narrative usage or variation in meaning; its sole function is to identify an individual within the lineage of the tribe of Simeon.
Etymology
The name Ohad (אֹהַד) is derived from an unused Hebrew root thought to mean 'to be united' or 'to join.' It is related to the Hebrew word for 'one' (אֶחָד, 'eḥāḏ, H259), which conveys the concept of unity. As a name, it likely expressed a hope or characteristic, such as 'united' or 'joined in harmony.'
Semantic Range
While Ohad himself is not a major theological figure, his inclusion in the genealogies is significant. It affirms the historical reality and continuity of God's covenant people, tracing the lineage from the patriarchs through the tribes of Israel. Understanding that even briefly mentioned names were part of God's covenantal family enriches the reading of Scripture by highlighting the importance of every individual in the broader story of redemption (Exodus 6:15). In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaningful significance, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or character traits. The name Ohad, meaning 'unity,' may have expressed a desire for familial or tribal cohesion. Its use solely in genealogies underscores the cultural importance of preserving family lineage and tribal identity, which was central to inheritance, social structure, and covenant identity. אֶחָד ('eḥāḏ, H259) — The common Hebrew word for 'one,' directly sharing the root concept of unity but used as a number or adjective, not a name.
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]