51. Abishur
Lexical Summary
Abishur: Abishur

Original Word: אֲבִישׁוּר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abiyshuwr
Pronunciation: ah-vee-SHOOR
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-shoor')
KJV: Abishur
NASB: Abishur, Abishur's
Word Origin: [from H1 (אָב - father) and H7791 (שׁוּר - wall)]

1. father of (the) wall (i.e. perhaps mason)
2. Abishur, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Abishur

From 'ab and shuwr; father of (the) wall (i.e. Perhaps mason); Abishur, an Israelite -- Abishur.

see HEBREW 'ab

see HEBREW shuwr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ab and shur
Definition
"my father is a wall," an Isr.
NASB Translation
Abishur (1), Abishur's (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִישׁוּר proper name, masculine (my father is a wall, Sabean אבשור HalMA 148, compare Assyrian Abudûru DlPr 202) son of Shammai 1 Chronicles 2:28,29.

Topical Lexicon
Abishur

Genealogical Context

Abishur appears solely within the Judahite genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2. He is named among the descendants of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron. Scripture places him in the seventh generation after Judah: Judah → Perez → Hezron → Jerahmeel → Onam → Shammai → Abishur. His position in the royal tribe underscores how even minor figures contributed to preserving Israel’s covenant lineage, ensuring an unbroken record from the patriarchs to David and ultimately to the Messiah (Matthew 1:1–3).

Family Relationships

Abishur married Abihail, likewise a member of the Jerahmeelite line. Their union produced two sons, Ahban and Molid (1 Chronicles 2:29). Nothing further is recorded regarding their deeds, yet their inclusion highlights the Chronicler’s purpose of affirming family legitimacy for land inheritance and Levitical service following the Babylonian exile.

Tribal Affiliation and Significance

Situated within the clan of Jerahmeel, Abishur belongs to the southern Judean settlement zone. Jerahmeelites occupied territories bordering Edom and the Negev (1 Samuel 27:10). Abishur’s family therefore represents part of the buffer protecting Israel’s heartland from desert incursions, modeling steadfastness on the frontier of covenant territory.

Historical Setting

The genealogies in Chronicles were compiled after the return from exile to re-establish national identity and to validate property claims. By listing otherwise obscure ancestors like Abishur, the Chronicler anchored post-exilic communities to pre-exilic promises. This lineage reminded Judah that restoration was not a new beginning but a continuation of God’s ongoing redemptive plan.

Spiritual Themes and Ministry Applications

1. Faithfulness in obscurity. Abishur’s life is hidden from narrative spotlight, yet God deemed his name worthy of permanent record. Believers learn that kingdom significance is measured by covenant faithfulness, not public acclaim (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
2. Covenant continuity. Each link in Judah’s chain affirms that the Lord “watches over the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6), guiding history toward the advent of Jesus Christ. Ministry today likewise advances through countless unnamed servants whose fidelity sustains the church’s witness.
3. Generational responsibility. Abishur and Abihail passed on a heritage to Ahban and Molid. Parents and leaders are charged to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD” (Psalm 78:4).

Typological Hints

The probable meaning “my father is a wall” evokes imagery of God as a protective fortress (Psalm 18:2). Though speculative, the name can remind students that every patriarchal link—however small—testifies to the Lord’s safeguarding of the messianic line until the “wall of salvation” was established in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 26:1; Ephesians 2:14).

Key References

1 Chronicles 2:28–29

Matthew 1:1–3

Psalm 78:4

Forms and Transliterations
אֲבִישׁ֖וּר אבישור וַאֲבִישֽׁוּר׃ ואבישור׃ ’ă·ḇî·šūr ’ăḇîšūr aviShur vaaviShur wa’ăḇîšūr wa·’ă·ḇî·šūr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 2:28
HEB: שַׁמַּ֔י נָדָ֖ב וַאֲבִישֽׁוּר׃
NAS: of Shammai [were] Nadab and Abishur.
KJV: of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.
INT: of Shammai Nadab and Abishur

1 Chronicles 2:29
HEB: וְשֵׁ֛ם אֵ֥שֶׁת אֲבִישׁ֖וּר אֲבִיהָ֑יִל וַתֵּ֣לֶד
NAS: The name of Abishur's wife
KJV: of the wife of Abishur [was] Abihail,
INT: the name wife of Abishur's Abihail bore

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 51
2 Occurrences


’ă·ḇî·šūr — 1 Occ.
wa·’ă·ḇî·šūr — 1 Occ.

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