Lexical Definition
אֲבִיאֵל ʼĂbîyʼêl (ab-ee-ale') Abiel N:N-M-P
from אָב and אֵל; father (i.e. possessor) of God
Abiel.
- § Abiel = "El (God) is (my) father"
- Abiel, the name of two Israelites
1) Saul's grandfather
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֲבִיאֵֽל | Abiel | 1Sam.14.51 |
| אֲבִיאֵ֞ל | Abiel | 1Sam.9.1 |
Extended Information
- Abiel = "El (God) is (my) father"
- son of: Zeror (צְרוֹר); married to Maacah (מַעֲכָה)
- father of: Kish (קִישׁ), Ner (נֵר), Abdon (עַבְדוֹן), Zur (צוּר), Baal (בַּעַל), Nadab (נָדָב), Gedor (גְדֹר), Ahio (אַחְיוֹ), Zecher (זֶכֶר) and Mikloth (מִקְלוֹת); also called Jeiel (Ketiv: Jeuel; KJV: Jehiel) at 1Ch.9.35 Ner at 1Ch.8.33 9.39
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיאֵל proper name, masculine (El is (my) father, compare אביהו & Phoenician אבבעל (feminine), also אביבעל; & אבנבעל our father etc.; Abi-ba'al KAT2 355; see RSSem 45. NöZMG 1888, 480 makes אבי here, & in אביהו etc., construct but this seems unlikely; compare also אליאב etc.; views differ much as to these proper names and uniform interpretation is impossible. Compare in general Ol§ 277 f).
1. Saul's grandfather 1Sam 9:1; 1Sam 14:51.
2. = foregoing, 1Chr 11:32.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 9:1 · 14:51 |
| 1 Chronicles | 11:32 |
Profile
Male • Saul's family • Father of Kish and grandfather of King Saul
Man living at the time of United Monarchy
Abiel, also known as Jeiel, Ner, or Abigibeon (or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'), was the father of Kish and grandfather of King Saul.
- A man from the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
- referred to as Abiel אֲבִיאֵל, or Jeiel (=Qere. Ketiv=Jeuel, KJV= Jehiel) יְעִיאֵל, or Ner נֵר, or "father of Gibeon" גִּבְעוֹן אָב;
- a son of Zeror צְרוֹר;
- husband of Maacah מַעֲכָה;
- father of Kish קִישׁ, Ner נֵר, Abdon עַבְדוֹן, Zur צוּר, Baal בַּעַל, Nadab נָדָב, Gedor גְדֹר, Ahio אַחְיוֹ, Zecher זֶכֶר and Mikloth מִקְלוֹת;
- founder of Gibeon גִּבְעוֹן.
Abiel, also referred to as Jeiel, Ner, or Abigibeon (or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'), was a Benjaminite and the father of Kish, who was the father of King Saul, Israel's first king. In 1 Samuel 9:1, Abiel is mentioned as the father of Kish and is described as a mighty man of power. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles 8 and 9 provide additional information about Abiel's family.
In 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39, he is called Ner, while in 1 Chronicles 8:29 and 9:35, he is referred to as Jeiel and Abigibeon or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'. These variations in names suggest that he may have been known by multiple names or that there might have been some discrepancies in the genealogical records. Abiel's son Kish became the father of Saul, who was anointed as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel.
All entries for Abiel or Jeiel or Ner or Abigibeon (or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'): אֲבִיאֵל ☩ יְעִיאֵל ☩ נֵר ☩ גִּבְעוֹן