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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Abijam

Abijam meaning

Abijam in Biblical Hebrew
אבים
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Abijam.html

🔼The name Abijam: Summary

Meaning
Father Of The Sea/ West/ Future
Etymology
From (1) the noun אב ('ab), father, and (2) the noun ים (yam), sea, west or future.
Related names
• Via אב ('ab): Abba, Abi, Abi-albon, Abiasaph, Abiathar, Abida, Abidan, Abiel, Abiezer, Abigail, Abihail, Abihu, Abihud, Abijah, Abimael, Abimelech, Abinadab, Abinoam, Abiram, Abishag, Abishai, Abishalom, Abishua, Abishur, Abital, Abitub, Abiud, Abner, Abram, Absalom, Ahab, Atroth-beth-joab, Barabbas, Bebai, Ben-abinadab, Chileab, Eliab, Huram-abi, Jeshebeab, Joab, Job, Moab, Oholiab
• Via ים (yam): Miriam, Yam-hamelah, Yam-sup

🔼The name Abijam in the Bible

Abijam is another name of king Abijah of Judah, son of king Rehoboam and Maacah. He's named Abijah throughout 2 Chronicles chapters 11-14 but Abijam in 1 Kings 15:1-8.

🔼Etymology of the name Abijam

The name Abijam consists of two elements. The first element is the word אב ('ab), meaning father:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
אב

The noun אב ('ab) means father, but describes primarily a social relationship rather than a biological one. That social fatherhood was the defining quality of the community's alpha male, the one around whom all economy revolved and from whom emanated all instructions by which the 'sons' (בן, ben) operated. It's unclear where this word אב ('ab) comes from but the verb abu means to decide.

— See the full Dictionary article —

The second part of the name Abijam looks like it could be the word ים (yam), meaning sea:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
ימם

The noun ים (yam) means sea, and was also used as synonym for west (sea-ward) or the future (as "east" corresponds to "past"). Its plural form, ימים (yamim), is identical to the plural of the word יום (yom), meaning day.

— See the full Dictionary article —

🔼Abijam meaning

The name Abijam means Father Of The Sea. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) proposes that Abijam was or was named after a sailor.

Abijam may also mean Father Of The West, perhaps indicating some regional lord (compare with Benjamin, meaning Son Of The Right Hand, as well as Son Of The South).

And note that the form אבים occurs in Ezekiel 3:7, as the second (but implied third) person plural of the verb אבה ('aba), meaning to want or accede (to be willing). That would give our name the meaning of You Are Willing.