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אֵחִי

𐤀𐤇𐤉

Echi

H278 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אח to be a brother, to relate as kin

Definition

Personal name referring to an individual of the tribe of Benjamin in the genealogies of the Israelite clans. The word functions as a proper noun within genealogical contexts, possibly meaning 'my brother' or expressing familial relationship, but as a name, its sense is proper and not descriptive.

Semantic Range

personal name; (if taken literally) my brother; eponymous ancestor of a Benjaminite clan

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root אח ('āch), meaning 'brother,' with a first person singular possessive suffix '-i' ('my brother'). The vocalization in this name (אֵחִי) slightly differs from the more common construct or possessive form (אֲחִי), but derives from the same root and follows standard patterns of personal names in Biblical Hebrew. As a personal name, the precise semantic motivation is either kinship affirmation or possibly a shortened form of a longer theophoric or compound name. Root: אח (to be a brother, related).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Genesis 46:21, אֵחִי (ʼÊchîy) appears as one of the sons of Benjamin, listed among the eponymous ancestors of Benjaminites. While the form אֲחִי ('Achi) is a general noun or construct form ('my brother'), the spelling אֵחִי (Êchîy) is unique as a proper name and may reflect dialectal or scribal variation, but does not indicate a fundamentally different meaning from the root. There is no biblical usage outside of genealogical records. English translations such as 'Ehi' render the name as a personal identifier, not seeking to translate its underlying sense. The identification of the name as meaning 'my brother' reflects the broader use of sibling terms as personal names in Ancient Israelite culture; cf. related proper names such as Ahijah, Ahiram, etc. The later tradition sometimes conflates tribal ancestors' names with later Israelite or Judahite personal names, but no explicit connection exists to 'Judaism' or 'Jew' terminology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably the same as אֲחִי; Echi, an Israelite; Ehi.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אח (ʾ-ḥ) — brotherhood, kinship, fraternal relation

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
H278-01 אֵחִ֣י echi HNp Ehi My-Brother 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H278-01 Genesis 46:21 אֵחִ֣י echi HNp Ehi My-Brother
← H277 Hebrew Lexicon H279 →