אֲבִיטוּב

𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤈𐤅𐤁

Avituv

H36 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אב, יטב father, to be good

Definition

Personal name of an Israelite man; composed of elements meaning 'my father is good,' sometimes interpreted as 'the (divine) father is good' or 'father of goodness.' Used exclusively as a proper name in genealogical contexts.

Semantic Range

personal name (Abitub); my father is good; father is good; father of goodness

Root / Etymology

A compound derived from אָב ('av, 'father') and טוּב (ṭuv, 'goodness, good'). The structure suggests a construct or possessive form, literally 'father is good' or 'my father is good.' The root of אָב is א-ב, meaning 'father,' and טוּב derives from the root י-ט-ב, meaning 'to be good.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name אֲבִיטוּב appears only in genealogical passages (1 Chronicles 8:11) as a descendant of Benjamin. The theophoric implication ('the father' referring to the deity) is possible, as with many ancient Hebrew personal names, though the exact nuance is context-dependent and may simply affirm the goodness of one's father or ancestor in other instances. Unlike some other biblical names, its usage is limited and does not become a title or general term. English versions transliterate the name as 'Abitub'; the KJV and other translations do not capture the element of meaning preserved in Hebrew. This name is not reused or echoed in later periods and lacks broader semantic application beyond this genealogical reference. Distinct from generic uses of אָב or טוּב, which in isolation can refer widely to 'father' or 'goodness,' this compound name specifically conveys a personal association.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָב and טוּב; father of goodness (i.e. good); Abitub, an Israelite; Abitub.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אב, יטב (ʾ-b; y-ṭ-b) — father, goodness, to be good

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H36-01 אֲבִיט֖וּב avituv HNp Abitub My Father Is Good 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H36-01 1 Chronicles 8:11 אֲבִיט֖וּב avituv HNp Abitub My Father Is Good