Original Word: אֲבִיהַיִל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abiyhayil
Pronunciation: ah-bee-hah'-yil
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-hah'-yil)
KJV: Abihail
NASB: Abihail
Word Origin: [from H1 (אָב - father) and H2428 (חַיִל - army)]

1. father (i.e. possessor) of might
2. Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses

Abihail

Or (more correctly) Abiychayil {ab-ee- khah'-yil}; from 'ab and chayil; father (i.e. Possessor) of might; Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses -- Abihail.

see HEBREW chayil

Word Origin
from ab and chayil
Definition
"my father is might," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Abihail (6).

אֲבִיחַ֫יִל proper name, masculine & feminine (my father is might, Sabean אבחיל Hal^{MA 234}) — probably = אֲבִיהַיִל2Chronicles 11:18, אֲבִיהָ֑יִל 1 Chronicles 2:29 —

1 a Levite Numbers 3:25.

2 a Gadite 1 Chronicles 5:14.

3 father of Esther Esther 2:15; Esther 9:29.

4 wife of Abishur 1 Chronicles 2:29.

5 wife of Rehoboam2Chronicles 11:18.

Overview of the Name in Scripture

The name Abihail (Strong’s Hebrew 32) is borne by six different persons in the Old Testament. They appear in varied tribal settings—Levi, Judah, Gad, and Benjamin—and in both pre-exilic and exilic periods. Although each individual lives in a distinct historical moment, together they illustrate the Lord’s sovereign orchestration of family lines for worship, leadership, and covenant preservation.

Levitical Service: Abihail Father of Zuriel (Numbers 3:35)

The first Abihail is the ancestor of Zuriel, chief of the Merarite clans. “Zuriel son of Abihail… was to camp on the north side of the tabernacle” (Numbers 3:35). Merarites were tasked with transporting the heavy framework of the tabernacle—boards, bars, pillars, and bases (Numbers 3:36-37). Abihail’s lineage therefore stands at the heart of Israel’s worship infrastructure, underscoring that faithful, often unseen, labor supports public ministry. The reference also shows how God ordered even the logistics of worship through specific families, prefiguring Christ’s body in which every member has a divinely appointed role.

Tribal Heritage: Abihail Wife of Abishur (1 Chronicles 2:29)

Within the family records of Judah, “Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid” (1 Chronicles 2:29). Although little else is said, her appearance in the genealogies affirms the importance of every household in the unfolding messianic promise given to Judah (Genesis 49:10). Even seemingly minor figures are counted in Scripture’s meticulous record, reminding readers that God’s redemptive purposes embrace ordinary families.

Transjordanian Valor: Abihail Ancestor of a Gadite Clan (1 Chronicles 5:14)

The Gadites, settled east of the Jordan, are praised for valor in war (1 Chronicles 5:18-22). Their pedigree is traced through “Abihail son of Huri” (1 Chronicles 5:14). His name thus becomes emblematic of the martial strength God granted the tribes guarding Israel’s frontier. The chronicler’s inclusion of Abihail emphasizes that military courage, when exercised in obedience, serves the covenant community.

Royal Associations: Abihail Daughter of Eliab, Relative of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18)

When Rehoboam fortified his reign, he married Mahalath, “the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab” (2 Chronicles 11:18). This Abihail links the divided monarchy back to both David and Jesse, highlighting continuity with the Davidic covenant even amid political instability. Her placement in the royal genealogy underlines the enduring faithfulness of God to preserve David’s house despite Rehoboam’s flaws.

Covenantal Preservation in Exile: Abihail Father of Queen Esther (Esther 2:15; 9:29)

The final and most prominent bearer of the name is the father of Esther. Twice Scripture identifies her as “Esther daughter of Abihail” (Esther 2:15; 9:29). Though Abihail himself is absent from the narrative, his inclusion anchors Esther’s Jewish identity and connects her to Mordecai, who adopts her. Through Esther, God delivers His people from extermination and institutes Purim, a perpetual memorial of divine reversal. Thus, Abihail’s name stands at the threshold of God’s providential rescue of Israel in exile, foreshadowing ultimate deliverance in Christ.

Collective Theological Themes

1. Covenant Continuity: Whether in wilderness worship, tribal settlement, monarchy, or exile, each Abihail appears at a juncture where covenant fidelity is on display.
2. Hidden yet Essential Ministry: From Merarite logistics to genealogical footnotes, the Abihails teach that unseen faithfulness undergirds visible redemptive events.
3. God’s Sovereign Choice of Instruments: The recurrence of the name across centuries shows that the Lord raises up individuals from diverse contexts—military, royal, priestly, exilic—to accomplish His purposes.

Practical Applications for Church Life

• Value every role in the congregation, recognizing that unseen service sustains corporate worship just as Merarites supported the tabernacle.
• Remember that family lines and personal histories matter to God; He weaves them into His redemptive narrative.
• Trust divine providence in times of crisis, knowing that God can position seemingly ordinary people—like Esther, the daughter of Abihail—for extraordinary deliverance.

אֲבִיהַ֕יִל אֲבִיהָ֑יִל אֲבִיחַ֗יִל אֲבִיחַ֛יִל אֲבִיחַ֣יִל אֲבִיחָ֑יִל אביהיל אביחיל ’ă·ḇî·ha·yil ’ă·ḇî·hā·yil ’ă·ḇî·ḥa·yil ’ă·ḇî·ḥā·yil ’ăḇîhayil ’ăḇîhāyil ’ăḇîḥayil ’ăḇîḥāyil aviChayil aviHayilInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts