Original Word: אֵחוּד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Echuwd
Pronunciation: eh-KHOOD
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-khood')
KJV: Ehud
NASB: Ehud
Word Origin: [from H258 (אָחַד - One)]

1. united
2. Echud, the name of three Israelites

Ehud

From 'achad; united; Echud, the name of three Israelites -- Ehud.

see HEBREW 'achad

Word Origin
from echad
Definition
"union," a Benjamite
NASB Translation
Ehud (1).

אֵחוּד proper name, masculine (union from אֱחוּד?) a Benja-mite 1 Chronicles 8:6 = אֵחִי Genesis 46:21.

Occurrence and Context

The name אֵחוּד appears a single time, in 1 Chronicles 8:6, within Benjamin’s genealogy: “These were the sons of Ehud, the heads of the families living in Geba, who were carried off to Manahath”.

Place in Benjamin’s Lineage

Two men transliterated “Ehud” stand in Scripture: the Judge of Judges 3 and this Benjaminite patriarch. The Chronicler distinguishes them by spelling; the father recorded in 1 Chronicles belongs to the post-conquest tribal family structures, not the earlier era of the Judges. His sons, described as household heads, signal a lineage of civic and perhaps spiritual leadership in Geba, a Levitical town (Joshua 21:17).

Historical Note on the Removal to Manahath

Mention of exile from Geba to Manahath hints at a localized deportation or resettlement, possibly connected to Saul’s reign, Assyrian pressure, or administrative reshuffling. Chronicling the displacement underscores divine providence amid lesser-known tribulations and anticipates the larger Babylonian exile-and-return motif that frames the book.

Theological Emphasis on Unity

While serving as a proper name, אֵחוּד echoes the broader Hebrew theme of oneness. In context, it underscores covenant cohesion: Benjamin, once nearly annihilated (Judges 20–21), now appears intact, contributing to the united post-exilic community gathered around temple worship (1 Chronicles 9).

Ministry Reflections

1. Stewardship of Spiritual Heritage—Leaders today, like the “heads of the families,” carry responsibility for transmitting faith (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
2. God’s Purpose in Relocation—Just as the family endured forced movement, modern believers may find missionary calling or spiritual growth through geographic upheaval (Acts 8:4).
3. Pursuit of Unity—The name’s nuance aligns with the New Testament mandate to “preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

Christological Connections

Every preserved genealogy culminates in Messiah (Matthew 1; Luke 3). Benjamin’s legacy eventually produces Paul (Philippians 3:5), whose ministry magnifies unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Thus, even an obscure name contributes to the redemptive line moving toward the cross and the church.

Related Themes and References

Unity—Psalm 133:1; John 17:21.

Genealogical Faithfulness—Ezra 2:59-63; Nehemiah 7:5.

Providence in Exile—Jeremiah 29:4-7; 1 Peter 1:1-2.

אֵח֑וּד אחוד ’ê·ḥūḏ ’êḥūḏ eChudInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts