Lexical Summary Achitub: Ahitub Original Word: אֲחִיטוּב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ahitub From 'ach and tuwb; brother of goodness; Achitub, the name of several priests -- Ahitub. see HEBREW 'ach see HEBREW tuwb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ach and tub Definition "my brother is goodness," two Isr. NASB Translation Ahitub (15). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲחִיטוּב proper name, masculine (my brother is goodness) 1 grandson of Eli 1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Chronicles 5:33; 1 Chronicles 5:34; 1 Chronicles 5:37; 1 Chronicles 5:38; father of Ahimelech 1 Samuel 22:9,20 (אֲחִטוּב) 1 Samuel 22:11; 1 Samuel 22:12 (on identity of person see Be 1 Chronicles 5:33). 2 father of Zadok 2 Samuel 8:17 (= 1 Chronicles 18:16), but We reads Ahim son of Ahitub; 1 Chronicles 5:37; Ezra 7:2; grandfather of Zadok 1 Chronicles 9:11; Nehemiah 11:11 (on all compare We on the passage) Topical Lexicon OverviewThe name Ahitub appears fifteen times in the Old Testament, identifying three priests who stand at critical junctures in Israel’s history. Each bearer helps bridge the eras of Shiloh, the united monarchy, the divided kingdom, and the post-exilic community, underscoring God’s unfailing commitment to preserve an authentic, Aaronic priesthood. Bearers of the Name • Grandson of Eli (Ithamar’s line): son of Phinehas, father of Ahijah and Ahimelech (1 Samuel 14:3; 22:9–20). Ahitub in the Era of Samuel and Saul “Ahijah son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli” (1 Samuel 14:3). Born after the ark disaster, this Ahitub shepherded worship through the transition from judges to monarchy. His son Ahimelech administered the sanctuary at Nob, providing David with consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword. Saul’s massacre of the priests (1 Samuel 22) fulfilled judgment on Eli’s house, yet one grandson escaped: “Abiathar, son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled after David” (1 Samuel 22:20). Legacy through Abiathar Abiathar served David but was later deposed by Solomon (1 Kings 2:26–27), ending the priestly tenure of Eli’s line. Thus the account that begins with Ahitub of Ithamar closes with divine judgment on unfaithfulness. Ahitub Father of Zadok A second Ahitub emerges in Eleazar’s branch: “Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests” (2 Samuel 8:17). Though Scripture records no personal acts, his significance lies in fathering Zadok, the “faithful priest” who replaced Abiathar, fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:35. Zadok’s Ministry under David and Solomon Zadok’s loyalty during Absalom’s revolt and at Solomon’s coronation secured the priesthood for his descendants. Through him, Ahitub’s house became the enduring spiritual leadership of the monarchy (1 Chronicles 18:16). A Later Ahitub in the Zadokite Line Chronicles names another Ahitub generations later: “Azariah was father of Amariah; Amariah was father of Ahitub; Ahitub was father of Zadok” (1 Chronicles 6:11–12). This namesake carried the Zadokite mantle into the divided kingdom era, maintaining continuity of temple service. Post-Exilic Continuity Genealogical rolls after the exile affirm the line’s legitimacy: “Azariah son of Hilkiah … son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of God’s house” (1 Chronicles 9:11). Ezra’s own pedigree includes “son of Zadok, son of Ahitub” (Ezra 7:2), demonstrating that the restored community was guided by priests traced back through Ahitub to Aaron. Theological Themes 1. Divine Faithfulness and Judgment: The fall of Abiathar and rise of Zadok show that God both disciplines and preserves. Lessons for Believers • Heritage alone is insufficient; obedience secures lasting impact. From Shiloh’s ruins to Jerusalem’s rebuilt temple, every mention of Ahitub weaves into Scripture’s broader testimony of God’s righteous judgment and steadfast love. Forms and Transliterations אֲחִט֔וּב אֲחִט֡וּב אֲחִטֽוּב׃ אֲחִיט֑וּב אֲחִיט֔וּב אֲחִיט֛וּב אֲחִיט֜וּב אֲחִיט֥וּב אֲחִיטֽוּב׃ אחטוב אחטוב׃ אחיטוב אחיטוב׃ וַאֲחִיטוּב֙ ואחיטוב ’ă·ḥi·ṭūḇ ’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇ ’ăḥiṭūḇ ’ăḥîṭūḇ achiTuv vaachiTuv wa’ăḥîṭūḇ wa·’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 14:3 HEB: וַאֲחִיָּ֣ה בֶן־ אֲחִט֡וּב אֲחִ֡י אִיכָב֣וֹד ׀ NAS: the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's KJV: the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's INT: and Ahijah the son of Ahitub brother Ichabod's 1 Samuel 22:9 1 Samuel 22:11 1 Samuel 22:12 1 Samuel 22:20 2 Samuel 8:17 1 Chronicles 6:7 1 Chronicles 6:8 1 Chronicles 6:11 1 Chronicles 6:12 1 Chronicles 6:52 1 Chronicles 9:11 1 Chronicles 18:16 Ezra 7:2 Nehemiah 11:11 15 Occurrences |