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אַחְיָן

𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤍

Acheyan

H291 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָח brother, kin, kinsman

Definition

Personal name, meaning 'brotherly' or 'brother is Yah' (if the theophoric element is assumed), borne by a descendant in the genealogical lists of the Israelite tribe of Manasseh. In context, this proper name signals kinship bonds or clan relations, rather than a character description. The semantic range of the name is limited to the identification of a specific person in early genealogies.

Semantic Range

brotherly, brother is Yah (possible theophoric), personal name designating kinship or familial relationship

Root / Etymology

From the root אָח (ach, 'brother') with the nominal ending -יָן (-yān). The exact origin and purpose of the -יָן ending is not fully certain; it may form diminutives or serve as a relational suffix. Some propose the name incorporates a theophoric abbreviation (such as 'Yah'), but this is debated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אַחְיָן (ʼAchyân) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 7:19, as the name of a descendant of Shemidah, in the genealogical lists of the tribe of Manasseh. The construction of the name suggests a focus on kinship ties, possibly reflecting clan-based organization or lineage. The -יָן (-yān) suffix is relatively rare in Hebrew personal names, and its exact nuance here is unclear. The English KJV renders the name as 'Ahian,' following transliteration; there is no basis for attaching later English meanings such as 'Jew' or 'Jewish.' The historical context is monarchic, situated within lists that establish tribal and family affiliations for early Israelite society. There is no evidence of semantic development beyond its use as a personal name in genealogical lists.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָח; brotherly; Achjan, an Israelite; Ahian.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אח (ʾ-ḥ) — brother, kin, kinsman

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
H291-01 אַחְיָ֣ן acheyan HNp Ahian Brotherly One 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H291-01 1 Chronicles 7:19 אַחְיָ֣ן acheyan HNp Ahian Brotherly One
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