אָב
Transliteration
'āḇ
Pronunciation
awb
Part of Speech
masculine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
A root
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 4a

Strong’s Definitions

אָב ʼâb, awb; a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application:—chief, (fore-) father(-less), × patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 1,215x

The KJV translates Strong's H1 in the following manner: father (1,205x), chief (2x), families (2x), desire (1x), fatherless (with H369) (1x), forefathers (with H7223) (1x), patrimony (1x), prince (1x), principal (1x).

  1. father of an individual

  2. of God as father of his people

  3. head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

  4. ancestor

    1. grandfather, forefathers — of person

    2. of people

  5. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

  6. of producer, generator (fig.)

  7. of benevolence and protection (fig.)

  8. term of respect and honour

  9. ruler or chief (spec.)

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
אָב ʼâb, awb; a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application:—chief, (fore-) father(-less), × patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
STRONGS H1: Abbreviations
אָב 1191 noun masculine father (Phoenician אב, Assyrian abu, Arabic أَبً, Sabean אב CISiv, 1, 37 1. 2 and others, Ethiopic አብ፡ Aramaic אַבָּא, axBAf  — absolute אָב Genesis 44:19 + 47 times; construct אַב Genesis 17:4, 5; (compare in אַבְרָהָם ib. & elsewhere in proper names. On Hal's proposed אֲבִר see אברהם); אֲבִי (compare Ge§§ 90, 3b, 96) Genesis 4:20 +; suffix אָבִי Genesis 19:34 + (MI אבי); אָבִיךָ Genesis 12:1 +; אָבִיו Genesis 2:24 +; אָבִ֫יהוּ Judges 14:10 + 6 times; plural אָבוֺת Exodus 12:3 +; construct אֲבוֺת Exodus 6:25 + 7 times; suffix אֲבוֺתַי (אֲבֹתַי, אֲבוֺתָ֑י) Genesis 47:9 + 15 times; אֲבוֺתֵיהֶם 1 Chronicles 4:38 + 32 times (late); אֲבוֺתָם Exodus 4:5 + 106 times etc.;
1. father of individual Genesis 2:24 (+ אֵם) Genesis 11:28, 29 (twice in verse); Genesis 19:31, 32, 33, + often (mostly J E D); of father as commanding Genesis 50:16 (J) Jeremiah 35:6f, Proverbs 6:20 (compare Genesis 18:19; J Genesis 28:1, 6 P 1 Samuel 17:20; 1 Kings 2:1); instructing מוסר Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 4:1 (compare Deuteronomy 8:5); specifically as begetter, genitor Proverbs 23:22; Zechariah 13:3 (twice in verse) (+ אֵם) Isaiah 45:10; compare Genesis 49:4 (J) Leviticus 18:7, 8, 11 (P); rebuking Genesis 37:10; loving Genesis 37:4; Genesis 44:20 (JE; compare Genesis 22:2; Genesis 25:28; Genesis 37:3; 2 Samuel 14:1); pitying Psalm 103:13 (in simile compare 2 Samuel 18:5); blessing Genesis 27:41 (JE compare Genesis 27:4; also Genesis 28:1 P +); as glad Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 15:20; compare Proverbs 29:3; grieving Genesis 37:35 (JE; compare 2 Samuel 12:22; 2 Samuel 19:1; 2 Samuel 19:2f) etc. Also as object of honour, obedience, love Exodus 20:12 (E)=Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 21:15, 17 (E) Deuteronomy 21:18, 19; Genesis 28:7 (P) 1 Kings 19:20 (all + אֵם), Genesis 50:1; Genesis 50:5 (J) Malachi 1:6 etc. Hence metaphor of intimate connection Job 17:14 to corruption I cry, My father art thou (|| אִמִּי וַאֲחֹתִי לָֽרִמָּה).
2. of God as father of his people (see RSSem 42), who constituted, controls, guides and lovingly watches over it: Deuteronomy 32:6; Jeremiah 3:4, 19; Jeremiah 31:9; Isaiah 63:16 (twice in verse); Isaiah 64:7; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10 (compare Exodus 4:22; Exodus 19:4 (JE) Deuteronomy 32:11; Hosea 11:1); compare Jeremiah 2:27 (of idolatrous Israel) אֹמְרִים לָעֵץ אָבִי אַתָּה וְלָאֶבֶן אַתְּ ילדתני׃; especially God as father of Davidic line 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 89:27; f. of needy (late) Psalm 68:6 (compare Psalm 103:13) (in proper name, father of individual, compare below)
3. head of household, family or clan; בֵּית אָבִי as abode Genesis 38:11 (twice in verse); Leviticus 22:13 +; = family Genesis 24:40 (|| מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי) Genesis 41:51; Genesis 46:31 — Numbers 18:1, 2; Joshua 2:12, 18; Joshua 6:25; especially techn. of divisions of Israel לְמִשְׁפָּחוֹת אָב בֵּית Numbers 3:30, 35 = a father's house, i.e. a family or clan; more often plural (אבותם, אבותיו) בֵית אָבוֺת = father's houses = families, clans (compare Di on Exodus 6:14) Exodus 6:14; Exodus 12:3; Numbers 1:2, 18 ff (often in Numbers) Joshua 14:1; Joshua 19:51; Joshua 21:1 (twice in verse); Joshua 22:14 (twice in verse) (always P in Hexateuch); also 1 Chronicles 5:13, 15 + often in Chronicles; compare רָאשֵׁי אבות הלוים (= 'בית א 'ר) Exodus 6:25 compare 1 Kings 8:1; 1 Chronicles 6:4; 1 Chronicles 7:11 — Ezra Nehemiah.
4. ancestor
(a) of individual; grandfather (instead of precise term) Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:10 [Genesis 32:9] (J; where used by Jacob of Abraham & then of Isaac); greatgrandfather 1 Kings 15:13; great-greatgrandfather 1 Kings 15:11 etc.; oft plural (= fathers, forefathers) Genesis 15:15; Genesis 46:34 (JE) 1 Kings 19:4; 1 Kings 21:3, 4; 2 Kings 19:12; 2 Kings 20:17 +; particularly שׁכב עם אבותיו 1 Kings 1:21; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 11:21; 1 Kings 22:40 +; joined with ויקבר עם אב׳ 1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:24; 1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 8:24; 2 Kings 15:38 compare 2 Kings 15:7, 2 Kings 16:20 + (all of kings of Judah); intensive, אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַאֲבוֺת אֲבֹתֶיךָ Exodus 10:6 compare Daniel 11:24;
(b) of people Genesis 10:21 (J) Genesis 17:4, 5 (P) Genesis 19:37, 38 (J) Genesis 36:9, 43 (P) Deuteronomy 26:5; Isaiah 51:2; Isaiah 43:27 (where אביך הראשׁון thy first father, see Che) compare also Ezekiel 16:3, 45 + often; plural Exodus 3:13, 15, 16 (E) Deuteronomy 1:8; Joshua 1:6; Judges 2:1; 1 Samuel 12:6 +; 1 Samuel 12:15 near the end read וּבְמַלְכְּכֶם We Dr.
5. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art Genesis 4:20, 21.
6. figurative of producer, Generator Job 38:28 הֲיֵשׁ לַמָּטָר אָ֑ב (|| הוֺלִיד אֶגְלֵי־טָֽל׃ מִי־).
7. figurative of benevolence & protection Job 29:6 אָב אָֽנֹכִי לָֽאֶבְיוֺנִים, compare Job 31:18; of Eliakim Isaiah 22:21; perhaps also of gracious Messianic king אֲבִי עַד Isaiah 9:5 everlasting father (Ge Ew De Che Brd Di) — others divider of spoil (Abarb Hi Kn Kue BrMP).
8. term of respect & honour (Abbas, Pater, Papa, Pope); applied to master 2 Kings 5:13; priest Judges 17:10; Judges 18:19; prophet 2 Kings 2:12 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 6:21; 2 Kings 13:14 (twice in verse); compare 2 Kings 8:9; counsellor Genesis 45:8 (E; compare δευτέρου πατρός add. Esther 3:13; τῷ πατρί1Mac Esth 11:32); king 1 Samuel 24:12; artificer 2 Chronicles 2:12; 2 Chronicles 4:16.
9. specifically, ruler, chief (late) 1 Chronicles 2:24, 42 (twice in verse); etc. (compare Ew§ 273 b) see also EwGeschichte. i. 524. H i. 365. On the force of אָב in proper names (in many probably a divine title), see CheEncy. Bib., ABI, NAMES WITH Nöib., NAMES, §§ 44, 45.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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References

Genesis

Genesis 2:24; Genesis 2:24; Genesis 4:20; Genesis 4:20; Genesis 4:21; Genesis 10:21; Genesis 11:28; Genesis 11:29; Genesis 12:1; Genesis 15:15; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 17:5; Genesis 18:19; Genesis 19:31; Genesis 19:32; Genesis 19:33; Genesis 19:34; Genesis 19:37; Genesis 19:38; Genesis 22:2; Genesis 24:40; Genesis 25:28; Genesis 27:4; Genesis 27:41; Genesis 28:1; Genesis 28:1; Genesis 28:6; Genesis 28:7; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 32:9; Genesis 36:9; Genesis 36:43; Genesis 37:3; Genesis 37:4; Genesis 37:10; Genesis 37:35; Genesis 38:11; Genesis 41:51; Genesis 44:19; Genesis 44:20; Genesis 45:8; Genesis 46:31; Genesis 46:34; Genesis 47:9; Genesis 49:4; Genesis 50:1; Genesis 50:5; Genesis 50:16

Exodus

Exodus 3:13; Exodus 3:15; Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:5; Exodus 4:22; Exodus 6:14; Exodus 6:14; Exodus 6:25; Exodus 10:6; Exodus 12:3; Exodus 12:3; Exodus 19:4; Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:15; Exodus 21:17

Leviticus

Leviticus 18:7; Leviticus 18:8; Leviticus 18:11; Leviticus 22:13

Numbers

Numbers 1:2; Numbers 1:18; Numbers 3:30; Numbers 3:35; Numbers 18:1; Numbers 18:2

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1:8; Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 8:5; Deuteronomy 21:18; Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 26:5; Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:11

Joshua

Joshua 1:6; Joshua 2:12; Joshua 2:18; Joshua 6:25; Joshua 14:1; Joshua 19:51; Joshua 21:1; Joshua 22:14

Judges

Judges 2:1; Judges 14:10; Judges 17:10; Judges 18:19

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 12:6; 1 Samuel 12:15; 1 Samuel 17:20; 1 Samuel 24:12

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 7:14; 2 Samuel 12:22; 2 Samuel 14:1; 2 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 19:1; 2 Samuel 19:2

1 Kings

1 Kings 1:21; 1 Kings 2:1; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 11:21; 1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:11; 1 Kings 15:13; 1 Kings 15:24; 1 Kings 19:4; 1 Kings 19:20; 1 Kings 21:3; 1 Kings 21:4; 1 Kings 22:40; 1 Kings 22:51

2 Kings

2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 6:21; 2 Kings 8:9; 2 Kings 8:24; 2 Kings 13:14; 2 Kings 15:7; 2 Kings 15:38; 2 Kings 16:20; 2 Kings 19:12; 2 Kings 20:17

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2:24; 1 Chronicles 2:42; 1 Chronicles 4:38; 1 Chronicles 5:13; 1 Chronicles 5:15; 1 Chronicles 6:4; 1 Chronicles 7:11

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 2:12; 2 Chronicles 4:16

Esther

Esther 3:13

Job

Job 17:14; Job 29:6; Job 31:18; Job 38:28

Psalms

Psalms 68:6; Psalms 89:27; Psalms 103:13; Psalms 103:13

Proverbs

Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 29:3

Isaiah

Isaiah 9:5; Isaiah 22:21; Isaiah 43:27; Isaiah 45:10; Isaiah 51:2; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:7

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 3:4; Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 31:9; Jeremiah 35:6

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 16:3; Ezekiel 16:45

Daniel

Daniel 11:24

Hosea

Hosea 11:1

Zechariah

Zechariah 13:3

Malachi

Malachi 1:6; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10