Lexical Definition
אֲבִיגַיִל ʼĂbîygayil (ab-ee-gah'-yil) Abigail N:N-F-P
or shorter אֲבִיגַל ʼĂbîygal (ab-ee-gal'); from אָב and גִּיל; father (i.e. source) of joy
Abigal.
- § Abigail = "my father is joy"
- Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses
1) wife of Nabal, then of David
2) sister of David
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| וַאֲבִיגָ֑יִל | and Abigail | 1Chr.2.16 |
| וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל | and Abigail | 1Chr.2.17 |
| אֲבִיגַ֣ל | Abigail | 2Sam.17.25 |
Extended Information
- A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.17.25
- daughter of: Nahash (נָחָשׁ) and Nahash (נָחָשׁ)
- sister of: David (דָּוִד), Eliab (אֱלִיאָב), Abinadab (אֲבִינָדָב), Shimeah (שִׁמְעָה), Nethanel (נְתַנְאֵל), Raddai (רַדַּי), Ozem (אֹצֶם), Zeruiah (צְרוּיָה), Abigail (אֲבִיגַיִל) and Elihu (אֱלִיהוּ); married to Jether (יֶתֶר)
- mother of: Amasa (עֲמָשָׂא)
- sister of David
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיגַ֫יִל proper name, feminine (my father is joy (?) originally אבגל? (אֲבִגֵל? compare ᵑ0 below & NöZMG 1883, 537 Anm2).
1. wife of Nabal, then of David 1Sam 25:14; 1Sam 25:23; 1Sam 25:39; 1Sam 25:40; 1Sam 25:42; 1Sam 27:3; 1Sam 30:5; 2Sam 2:2; 1Chr 3:1 = אֲבִגַיִל 1Sam 25:3; 1Sam 25:36 אֲבִו֯גַיִל v1Sam 25:18, אֲבִיגָל֑ v1Sam 25:32, אֲבִיגַ֯לִ 2Sam 3:3.
2. sister of David 1Chr 2:16; 1Chr 2:17 = אֲבִיגַל 2Sam 17:25.
אבוגיל Kt 2Sam 25:18 see אֲבִיגַיִל below II. אבה.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 25:3 · 25:14 · 25:18 · 25:23 · 25:32 · 25:36 · 25:39 · 25:40 · 25:42 · 27:3 · 30:5 |
| 2 Samuel | 2:2 · 3:3 · 17:25 · 25:18 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:16 · 2:17 · 3:1 |
Profile
Female • Sister of David • Sister of David; mother of Amasa
Woman living at the time of United Monarchy
Abigail, David's sister, was the mother of Amasa, who became the commander of Absalom's army.
- A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.17.25;
- referred to as Abigail אֲבִיגַיִל, or Abigal (KJV= Abigail) אֲבִיגַיִל;
- daughter of Nahash נָחָשׁ and Nahash נָחָשׁ;
- a sister of David דָּוִד, Eliab אֱלִיאָב, Abinadab אֲבִינָדָב, Shimeah שִׁמְעָה, Nethanel נְתַנְאֵל, Raddai רַדַּי, Ozem אֹצֶם, Zeruiah צְרוּיָה, and Elihu אֱלִיהוּ;
- wife of Jether יֶתֶר;
- mother of Amasa עֲמָשָׂא.
Abigail was the daughter of Jesse and the sister of King David, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:16-17. She married a man named Jether, who was an Ishmaelite (2 Samuel 17:25). Abigail and Jether had a son named Amasa, who played a significant role during the rebellion of David's son Absalom.
During Absalom's revolt against David, Absalom appointed Amasa as the commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been David's military commander (2 Samuel 17:25). After Absalom's defeat and death, David offered Amasa the position of commander-in-chief to appease the supporters of Absalom.
However, when David sent Amasa to gather the men of Judah, he took longer than expected. This delay prompted David to send Abishai and Joab to pursue the rebel Sheba. Joab, seeing Amasa as a threat to his position, killed him (2 Samuel 20:4-13). The biblical text does not provide further information about Abigail's life or her reaction to her son's death.
All entries for Abigail: אֲבִיגַיִל