Lexical Definition

‎אֲבִימֶלֶךְ‎ ʼĂbîymelek (ab-ee-mel'-ek) Abimelech ^N:N-M-P
from ‎אָב‎ and ‎מֶלֶךְ‎; father of (the) king

Abimelech.

• § Abimelech = "Melek is father" or "my father is king"
• Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites

1) king of Gerar in Abraham's time
2) king of Gath in David's time; maybe title of Philistine kings
3) son of Gideon by a concubine
4) priest, son of Abiathar

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ‎ proper name, masculine (Melek (= Malik, Molech) is father) — ‎אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ‎ Gen 20:18 + —

1. king of Gerar Gen 20:2; Gen 20:3; Gen 20:4 +, Gen 21:22; Gen 21:25 (twice in verse) +, Gen 26:1; Gen 26:8 + (24 t. Genesis).

2. king of Gath Psalm Gen 34:1 error for ‎אָכִישׁ‎, compare 1Sam 21:11* f; — a better known Philistine name substituted for a less known (Hup³). > Others (Thes Ol De MV) think a title of Philistine kings, compare Pharaoh.

3. son of Gideon Judg 8:31; Judg 9:1; Judg 9:3; Judg 9:4 +, Judg 10:1 (40 t. Judges), 2Sam 11:21.

4. priest, son of Abiathar 1Chr 18:16 error for ‎אֲחִימֶלֶח‎ q. v. (Sabean also proper name, feminine Osiander^{ZMG 1865, 209}).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References