אַח
𐤀𐤇
ʼach
H252 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A male sibling; one sharing a common parent or familial line (literal sense). Also extends to a member of the same ethnic group, clan, or nation (broader kinship); by metaphor, someone of close association, companion, or ally. In certain cases, used broadly for members of the same community, social group, or in parallel positions to the Hebrew term for 'brother.'
Semantic Range
male sibling, blood relative, member of the same clan, fellow Israelite or Judahite, compatriot, companion, ally, associate
Root / Etymology
From root אח, meaning 'to be joined, related, associated' (see Hebrew אָח, 'brother'). אַח is the Aramaic equivalent, derived from the same Northwest Semitic root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַח (ʼach) is an Aramaic masculine noun, closely parallel to the Hebrew אָח (ʼāḥ), found primarily in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). In its primary usage it designates a brother by blood, but can extend to clan members, fellow Israelites, or even political allies, much like its Hebrew counterpart. While the English 'brother' often conveys only close kinship, the term's use in ancient Israelite and Aramaic-speaking communities encompassed broader ties—including social, communal, and political alliances. In translation traditions, particularly in later Greek and English (where 'brother' may come to denote co-religionists or fellow members of a faith, sometimes rendering Aramaic אַח or Hebrew אָח as 'Jew'), such meanings introduce anachronisms not present in the original. Context determines whether familial or metaphorical 'brotherhood' is in view.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to אָח; {a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance)}; brother.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אח (ʾ-ḥ) — to be joined, to associate, to be related
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H251 | אָח | brother |
| H253 | אָח | brother |
| H254 | אָח | the firepot |
| H255 | אֹחַ | howling wild creatures |
| H264 | אַחֲוָה | the brotherhood |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H252-01 |
אחי/ך | chykh | ANcmpc/Sp2ms |
your-brothers | your brothers | 1 |
H252-02 |
אֶחָ֜/ךְ | echakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
your-brothers | your brother | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences