Original Word: אֲבִיאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abiy'el
Pronunciation: ah-vee-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-ale')
KJV: Abiel
NASB: Abiel
Word Origin: [from H1 (אָב - father) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. father (i.e. possessor) of God
2. Abiel, the name of two Israelites

Abiel

From 'ab and 'el; father (i.e. Possessor) of God; Abiel, the name of two Israelites -- Abiel.

see HEBREW 'ab

see HEBREW 'el

Word Origin
from ab and el
Definition
"El is my father," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Abiel (3).

אֲבִיאֵל proper name, masculine (El is (my) father, compare אביהו & Phoenician אבבעל (feminine), also אביבעל; & אבנבעל our father etc.; Abi-ba'al KAT²³⁵⁵; see RS^{Sem 45.} Nö^{ZMG 1888, 480 makes} אבי here, & in אביהו etc., construct but this seems unlikely; compare also אליאב etc.; views differ much as to these proper names and uniform interpretation is impossible. Compare in General Ol^{§ 277 f}).

1 Saul's grandfather 1 Samuel 9:1; 1 Samuel 14:51.

2 = foregoing, 1 Chronicles 11:32.

Occurrences in Scripture

1 Samuel 9:1; 1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Chronicles 11:32

Genealogical Role in the Early Monarchy

Abiel stands at the head of the Benjamite lineage that produced both King Saul and the commander Abner. Scripture introduces him in the paternal chain of Saul: “Now there was a man of Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror…a mighty man of valor” (1 Samuel 9:1). The same line is reiterated in 1 Samuel 14:51, where Abiel is identified as the common ancestor of Saul and Abner, knitting together royal and military branches of Israel’s first monarchy. By providing this shared ancestry, the narrative highlights the internal cohesion of Benjamin during the kingdom’s formative years and explains why Abner, though later opposed to David, initially supported Saul’s house: both men were grandsons of Abiel.

Character Sketch and Probable Life Setting

Although Scripture gives no direct description of Abiel’s personal deeds, the surrounding details allow several inferences:
• Tribal Identity: A Benjamite, likely dwelling near Gibeah, the future capital of Saul.
• Family Culture: His descendants are repeatedly called “mighty men of valor,” suggesting that Abiel fostered a household noted for courage and leadership.
• Spiritual Heritage: The very name, meaning “my father is God,” implies a family conscious of covenantal identity. The later failure of Saul therefore cannot be attributed to an ungodly lineage but to personal disobedience, underscoring the biblical principle that each generation must individually respond to God.

Abiel the Arbathite among David’s Mighty Men

A second individual bears the same name centuries later: “Abiel the Arbathite” (1 Chronicles 11:32). Listed among David’s elite warriors, this Abiel hailed from the Judean village of Arabah (Arbathite). His inclusion testifies to the continued resonance of the name and to a pattern of valor attached to it. The two Abiels, though unrelated, form literary bookends around the United Monarchy: the first precedes Saul; the second supports David. Together they illustrate God’s providence in raising up leaders from diverse backgrounds to fulfill His purposes.

Historical and Theological Significance

1. Foundation of Monarchy: By anchoring Saul and Abner in a single patriarch, the text shows that Israel’s shift from tribal confederation to centralized rule grew organically out of existing clan structures rather than foreign imposition.
2. Covenantal Continuity: The shared lineage of king and commander points to God’s sovereign orchestration; leadership gifts within Israel were not random but divinely threaded through family lines.
3. Foreshadowing of Division: The Abiel–Saul–Abner line hints at future schism. When Abner later installs Ish-bosheth against David (2 Samuel 2:8-9), the conflict traces back to loyalties rooted in Abiel’s house, illustrating how family allegiance can both support and hinder God’s unfolding plan.
4. Redemptive Integration: The appearance of an “Abiel” fighting for David underlines that God integrates former adversarial elements into His kingdom, redeeming names and legacies for His glory.

Lessons for Believers

• Spiritual legacy matters. Even when Scripture offers only a name, that heritage can echo across generations.
• Family honor is not guaranteed righteousness; Saul’s fall warns that personal faithfulness must accompany honored ancestry.
• God weaves individual stories—known or obscure—into His larger redemptive tapestry. The hidden patriarch Abiel and the obscure warrior Abiel alike remind believers that no life surrendered to God is insignificant.

אֲבִיאֵ֖ל אֲבִיאֵ֞ל אֲבִיאֵֽל׃ אביאל אביאל׃ ’ă·ḇî·’êl ’ăḇî’êl aviElInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts