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אֶבְיָתָר

𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤓

Eveyatar

H54 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָב, יָתַר to be a father, to be abundant, to have surplus, to leave over

Definition

Proper noun designating an Israelite individual named Ebyathar (Abiathar), primarily known as a high priest during the reigns of David and Solomon. The name is a theophoric compound meaning 'the father is abundant,' potentially signifying 'the father (or God) has shown abundance' or 'abundance of the father.' It does not function as a common noun, but as a personal name, it expresses a wish or a claim regarding abundance or surplus bestowed by the father or deity.

Semantic Range

proper name of a male Israelite; phrase expressing 'the father is abundant,' 'the father has surplus'; signifies abundance or surplus attributed to a father or the deity in the context of a personal name

Root / Etymology

Derived from the roots אָב (av, 'father') and יָתַר (yatar, 'to be abundant, to remain, to have surplus'). The compound formation produces a meaning along the lines of 'the father is abundant' or 'the father has abundance.' This reflects a common pattern in personal names from the Hebrew Bible where divine attributes or blessings are ascribed via the structure of the name.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The personal name אֶבְיָתָר appears chiefly in narratives concerning the priesthood during the United Monarchy period, particularly in 1–2 Samuel and 1 Kings. As son of Ahimelech of Nob, Ebyathar (Abiathar) is uniquely associated with the lineage of priests descended from Eli. After surviving the massacre at Nob (1 Samuel 22), Ebyathar served as a priest in David's entourage and later as co-high priest with Zadok. The name reflects naming conventions of the period that express theological statements or familial aspirations. Standard English translations almost universally retain the proper name as 'Abiathar,' but this obscures the compositional elements and their significance. Later Jewish tradition and Christian translations often retroject later religious terminology onto this figure, but in the biblical narrative he is understood historically as a priest from the Israelite sanctuary tradition. There is no clear evidence that the name shifted in meaning across biblical periods, though it ceases to appear as a living personal name after the monarchic period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

contracted from אָב and יָתַר; father of abundance (i.e. liberal); Ebjathar, an Israelite; Abiathar.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אב יתר (ʾ-b; y-t-r) — fatherhood, be abundant, have surplus, remain over

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H54-01 אֶבְיָתָ֑ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant 17
H54-03 וּ/לְ/אֶבְיָתָ֖ר uleeveyatar HC/R/Np and for Abiathar and to Father-is-Abundant 6
H54-04 וְ/אֶבְיָתָ֛ר veeveyatar HC/Np and Abiathar Father-is-Abundant 5
H54-02 לְ/אֶבְיָתָ֗ר leeveyatar HR/Np to Abiathar to Father-is-Abundant 2

Occurrences in Scripture

30 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H54-01 1 Samuel 22:20 אֶבְיָתָ֑ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 1 Samuel 22:21 אֶבְיָתָ֖ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-02 1 Samuel 22:22 לְ/אֶבְיָתָ֗ר leeveyatar HR/Np to Abiathar to Father-is-Abundant
H54-01 1 Samuel 23:6 אֶבְיָתָ֧ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 1 Samuel 23:9 אֶבְיָתָ֣ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 1 Samuel 30:7 אֶבְיָתָ֤ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 1 Samuel 30:7 אֶבְיָתָ֛ר eveyatar-2 HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 2 Samuel 8:17 אֶבְיָתָ֖ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 2 Samuel 15:24 אֶבְיָתָ֑ר eveyatar HNp Abiathar Father Is Abundant
H54-01 2 Samuel 15:27 אֶבְיָתָ֛ר eveyatar HNp of Abiathar Father Is Abundant
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