Original Word: אַחְיָן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achyan
Pronunciation: akh-YAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-yawn')
KJV: Ahian
NASB: Ahian
Word Origin: [from H251 (אָח - brother)]

1. brotherly
2. Achjan, an Israelite

Ahian

From 'ach; brotherly; Achjan, an Israelite -- Ahian.

see HEBREW 'ach

Word Origin
from the same as ach
Definition
"brotherly," a Manassite
NASB Translation
Ahian (1).

אַחְיָן proper name, masculine (fraternal, Aramaic ) a Manassite 1 Chronicles 7:19.

Scriptural Citation

“The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.” (1 Chronicles 7:19)

Genealogical Placement

Ahian appears in the tribal register of Manasseh preserved in 1 Chronicles. His line proceeds: Joseph → Manasseh → Machir → Gilead → Shemida → Ahian. The Chronicler inserts this name to show the completeness of Israel’s family tree; even minor branches are remembered because they contribute to the covenant people’s wholeness.

Geographical and Tribal Setting

Manasseh inherited territory on both sides of the Jordan. Shemida’s clan is associated with the eastern holdings in Gilead (Numbers 26:29–32; Joshua 17:2). Thus Ahian’s descendants were likely settled east of the Jordan, sharing borders with Gad and Reuben, defending Israel’s frontier, and benefiting from fertile grazing land. The strategic placement of these clans underscores God’s providence in allotting land suited to each tribe’s calling.

Historical Context

1 Chronicles was compiled after the exile to reaffirm Israel’s identity. By listing northern-tribe families such as Ahian’s, the writer reminds post-exilic Judah that God’s promises embrace all Israel, not Judah alone. The inclusion implies that, though the northern kingdom fell to Assyria, its families were not forgotten in heaven’s record.

Biblical-Theological Significance

1. Divine Memory: God records every faithful household, whether well-known like Judah or obscure like Ahian’s clan (Malachi 3:16).
2. Covenant Continuity: The Chronicler links Joseph’s heirs to David’s line, eventually culminating in Messiah (Matthew 1:1–16; Luke 3:23–38). Ahian’s entry is a thread in this tapestry of redemption history.
3. Corporate Solidarity: Each name affirms that personal accounts are woven into a larger redemptive community (Ephesians 2:19).

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• Value of the Ordinary: Obscure saints matter. Pastors and teachers should honor every believer’s contribution, reflecting God’s impartial record-keeping (Romans 12:4–5).
• Intergenerational Stewardship: Genealogies motivate families to transmit faith intentionally, so their names, like Ahian’s, stand in testimony to future generations (Psalm 145:4).
• Territorial Responsibility: Just as eastern-Jordan tribes guarded Israel’s borders, local congregations must steward their “territory”—homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods—with vigilance and grace (Acts 1:8).

Related Passages for Study

Numbers 26:29-34; Joshua 17:1-6; 1 Chronicles 7:14-19; Malachi 3:16; Romans 12:4-8

אַחְיָ֣ן אחין ’aḥ·yān ’aḥyān achYanInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts