285. Achitub
Lexical Summary
Achitub: Ahitub

Original Word: אֲחִיטוּב
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achiytuwb
Pronunciation: a-khee-toob'
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ee-toob')
KJV: Ahitub
NASB: Ahitub
Word Origin: [from H251 (אָח - brother) and H2898 (טּוּב - goodness)]

1. brother of goodness
2. Achitub, the name of several priests

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 Origin
from 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
Overview

The 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).
• Father of Zadok (Eleazar’s line): listed among David’s court priests (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:7–8; 18:16).
• Later descendant in the Zadokite line: ancestor of Seraiah and Ezra (1 Chronicles 6:11–12; 9:11; Ezra 7:2; Nehemiah 11:11).

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.
2. Continuity of Worship: The repeated appearance of Ahitub’s name across centuries testifies to an unbroken priestly line.
3. Prophetic Fulfillment: The priestly transfer foretold to Eli materializes through the generations of Ahitub.
4. Messianic Foreshadowing: The steadfast Zadokite priesthood, descended from an Ahitub, prefigures the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Lessons for Believers

• Heritage alone is insufficient; obedience secures lasting impact.
• God’s purposes advance despite human failure, as seen in the preservation of the priestly line.
• Biblical genealogies ground faith in historical reality and covenant continuity.

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·ṭūḇ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ בֶּן־ אֲחִטֽוּב׃
NAS: to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
KJV: to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
INT: Ahimelech the son of Ahitub

1 Samuel 22:11
HEB: אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֜וּב הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְאֵ֨ת
NAS: the son of Ahitub, and all
KJV: the son of Ahitub, and all his father's
INT: Ahimelech the son of Ahitub the priest and all

1 Samuel 22:12
HEB: נָ֖א בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֑וּב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנְנִ֥י
NAS: son of Ahitub. And he answered,
KJV: now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered,
INT: now son of Ahitub answered behold

1 Samuel 22:20
HEB: לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִט֔וּב וּשְׁמ֖וֹ אֶבְיָתָ֑ר
NAS: the son of Ahitub, named
KJV: the son of Ahitub, named
INT: of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub named Abiathar

2 Samuel 8:17
HEB: וְצָד֧וֹק בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֛וּב וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּן־
NAS: the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech
KJV: the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech
INT: Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son

1 Chronicles 6:7
HEB: הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ אֲחִיטֽוּב׃
NAS: became the father of Ahitub,
KJV: and Amariah begat Ahitub,
INT: and Amariah the father of Ahitub

1 Chronicles 6:8
HEB: וַאֲחִיטוּב֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־
NAS: and Ahitub became the father
KJV: And Ahitub begat Zadok,
INT: and Ahitub became of Zadok

1 Chronicles 6:11
HEB: הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ אֲחִיטֽוּב׃
NAS: became the father of Ahitub,
KJV: and Amariah begat Ahitub,
INT: and Amariah the father of Ahitub

1 Chronicles 6:12
HEB: וַאֲחִיטוּב֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־
NAS: and Ahitub became the father
KJV: And Ahitub begat Zadok,
INT: and Ahitub became of Zadok

1 Chronicles 6:52
HEB: אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ אֲחִיט֥וּב בְּנֽוֹ׃
NAS: Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
KJV: Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
INT: Amariah his son Ahitub his son

1 Chronicles 9:11
HEB: מְרָיוֹת֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֔וּב נְגִ֖יד בֵּ֥ית
NAS: the son of Ahitub, the chief officer
KJV: the son of Ahitub, the ruler
INT: of Meraioth the son of Ahitub the chief of the house

1 Chronicles 18:16
HEB: וְצָד֧וֹק בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֛וּב וַאֲבִימֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּן־
NAS: the son of Ahitub and Abimelech
KJV: the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech
INT: and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son

Ezra 7:2
HEB: צָד֖וֹק בֶּן־ אֲחִיטֽוּב׃
NAS: of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
KJV: of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
INT: of Zadok son of Ahitub

Nehemiah 11:11
HEB: מְרָיוֹת֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֔וּב נְגִ֖ד בֵּ֥ית
NAS: the son of Ahitub, the leader
KJV: the son of Ahitub, [was] the ruler
INT: of Meraioth the son of Ahitub the leader of the house

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 285
15 Occurrences


’ă·ḥi·ṭūḇ — 13 Occ.
wa·’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇ — 2 Occ.

284
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