אַחֲוָה
𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤄
ʼachăvâh
H264 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of being brothers; brotherhood, kinship, or close association based on shared lineage or community bonds. The term refers not merely to literal biological brotherhood but extends to communal solidarity among members of the same social, ethnic, or religious group.
Semantic Range
brotherhood, fraternal relationship, kinship association, communal unity or solidarity (especially among Israelites), group identity
Root / Etymology
אָח (ach, 'brother') is the root, with אַחֲוָה (achăvâh) formed by adding the feminine ending -ָה to denote an abstract collective quality ('brotherhood' or 'fraternity'). The formation denotes the state or condition of being brothers.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַחֲוָה occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Psalm 133:1, where it describes the ideal of harmonious coexistence among 'brothers,' interpreted contextually as fellow Israelites—whether by family, tribe, or nation. The term thus reaches beyond biological siblings to indicate communal unity or solidarity. Its use reflects a value placed upon group cohesion in the Israelite social and religious imagination, often connected with covenantal identity. English translations frequently render it 'brotherhood,' 'unity,' or 'fellowship,' but these may lack the full nuance of shared destiny among kin or covenant partners. In later Hebrew and Second Temple literature, the concept develops toward broader ideas of communal identity or social ethical ideals. The term is etymologically and conceptually distinct from other words denoting love (אַהֲבָה), friend/companion (רֵעַ), or neighbor (שָׁכֵן), emphasizing kin-based or covenantal bonds rather than mere affective or geographic proximity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָח; fraternity; brotherhood.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אח (ʾ-ḥ) — brother, kin, to be a brother
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H251 | אָח | brother |
| H252 | אַח | your brothers |
| H253 | אָח | brother |
| H254 | אָח | the firepot |
| H255 | אֹחַ | howling wild creatures |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H264-01 |
הָֽ/אַחֲוָ֔ה | haachavah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the brotherhood | the brotherhood | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H264-01 |
Zechariah 11:14 | הָֽ/אַחֲוָ֔ה | haachavah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the brotherhood | the brotherhood |