Ἀβιαθάρ
Abiathár
G8 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name; Abiathar, a prominent Israelite personal name used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible and in the New Testament. The name refers specifically to the son of Ahimelech, a priest during the time of King David, and carries the meaning of 'the father is abundance' or 'my father excels.' In the Greek corpus, the word functions as a personal designation, not as a general noun or title.
Semantic Range
Abiathar (personal name of a priestly figure); used strictly as a proper name, not as a common noun or title
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew אֶבְיָתָר ('Evyatar'), likely meaning 'the father is abundance/excellence,' derived from אֶב ('father') and יָתָר ('abundance, remainder, to exceed'). The form is a transliteration without internal Greek derivation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἀβιαθάρ appears exclusively as a personal name in the Greek biblical tradition, notably in the Septuagint as a transcription of the Hebrew priestly figure, and is referenced in the New Testament (e.g., Mark 2:26) in the context of priestly narrative. The name is not used generically but specifically. English Bibles typically transliterate it as 'Abiathar,' but the Greek form reflects conventions of adapting Hebrew names into Greek phonology. In both LXX and NT contexts, the referent is historically situated in Israel during the monarchic period. The New Testament reference is formulaic in introducing scriptural citation or historical context. There are minor textual and interpretive debates concerning the chronological accuracy of some uses (e.g., Mark 2:26 referencing Abiathar as high priest), but the lexical significance is settled as a proper noun.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (אֶבְיָתָר); Abiathar, an Israelite:--Abiathar.
Root Family
Ἀβιαθάρ (Abiathar) — personal name, abundance, to excel
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G8-01 |
Ἀβιαθὰρ | abiathar | N GEN M SG |
Abiathar | of Abiathar | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G8-01 |
Mark 2:26 | Ἀβιαθὰρ | abiathar | N GEN M SG |
Abiathar | of Abiathar |