Original Word: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abiymelek
Pronunciation: ah-vee-MEH-lek
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-mel'-ek)
KJV: Abimelech
NASB: Abimelech, Abimelech's
Word Origin: [from H1 (אָב - father) and H4428 (מֶלֶך - king)]

1. father of (the) king
2. Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites

Abimelech

From 'ab and melek; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites -- Abimelech.

see HEBREW 'ab

see HEBREW melek

Word Origin
from ab and melek
Definition
"father is king," a Philistine name, also an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Abimelech (65), Abimelech's (1).

אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ proper name, masculine (Melek (= Malik, Molech) is father) — אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ Genesis 20:18 #NAME?

1 king of Gerar Genesis 20:2,3,4 +, Genesis 21:22,25 (twice in verse) +, Genesis 26:1,8 + (24 t. Genesis).

2 king of Gath Psalm Genesis 34:1 error for אָכִישׁ, compare 1 Samuel 21:11 f; — a better known Philistine name substituted for a less known (Hup³). > Others (Thes Ol De MV) think a title of Philistine kings, compare Pharaoh.

3 son of Gideon Judges 8:31; Judges 9:1,3,4 +, Judges 10:1 (40 t. Judges), 2 Samuel 11:21.

4 priest, son of Abiathar 1 Chronicles 18:16 error for אֲחִימֶלֶח q. v. (Sabean also

proper name, feminine Osiander^{ZMG 1865, 209}).

Principal Bearers of the Name

• The Philistine ruler of Gerar who interacts with Abraham (Genesis 20–21).
• A later king of Gerar, probably a dynastic successor or title-holder, who confronts Isaac (Genesis 26).
• The usurper-son of Gideon who rules Shechem for three years (Judges 8:31; Judges 9).
• The Philistine king of Gath called “Abimelech” in Psalm titles, better known as Achish in the historical narrative (Psalm 34; Psalm 56; 1 Samuel 21).
• A priest in David’s administration, rendered “Abimelech son of Abiathar” by the Chronicler (1 Chronicles 18:16; 24:6, 31), parallel to “Ahimelech” in 2 Samuel 8:17—a variant spelling of the same name.

Altogether the name appears about sixty-seven times, spanning the Patriarchal era through the early monarchy.

The Patriarchal Abimelechs (Genesis 20–21; 26)

1. Protection of the Covenant Line

Abraham’s sojourn in Gerar places Sarah in jeopardy, yet “God came to Abimelech in a dream by night” (Genesis 20:3). The divine intervention preserves the promised seed and demonstrates the Lord’s sovereign guard over His redemptive purposes.

2. Moral Awareness among the Nations

The Philistine king protests his innocence: “In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this” (Genesis 20:5). God affirms the reality of common-grace conscience while still demanding restitution.

3. Intercessory Role of the Patriarch

“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech” (Genesis 20:17). The patriarch functions as priest for the nations, foreshadowing Israel’s mediatorial calling.

4. The Beersheba Treaty

In Genesis 21:22-34 Abimelech recognizes divine favor on Abraham: “God is with you in all that you do” (verse 22). Their oath and the naming of Beersheba mark a peaceful boundary within the land promised to Abraham’s descendants.

5. Reprise with Isaac

A generation later Isaac repeats his father’s deception. Abimelech discerns the truth and warns his people: “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death” (Genesis 26:11). The subsequent covenant meal (Genesis 26:30-31) confirms God’s faithfulness from father to son.

Dynastic Title or Personal Name?

The recurrence of “Abimelech” in successive reigns, together with Psalm titles that apply it to Achish, suggests a royal title (“my father is king”) employed by Philistine rulers, comparable to “Pharaoh” in Egypt.

Abimelech Son of Gideon (Judges 8:31; Judges 9)

1. Rise to Power

Born to Gideon’s concubine of Shechem, Abimelech secures funding from the idolatrous temple of Baal-berith, hires mercenaries, and slaughters seventy half-brothers on one stone (Judges 9:5). His coronation by the men of Shechem illustrates Israel’s rapid apostasy after Gideon’s death.

2. The Parable of Jotham

Jotham’s fable of the trees (Judges 9:7-20) warns that those who seek illegitimate rule will bring fire upon themselves and their supporters—prophetic of Abimelech’s end.

3. Divine Retribution

After internal strife and a brutal campaign, “a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and cracked his skull” (Judges 9:53). Scripture comments: “Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech” (Judges 9:56-57), affirming the principle of reaping what is sown.

4. Theology of Kingship

Abimelech’s failed monarchy stands as a cautionary prelude to Israel’s later demand for a king in 1 Samuel 8. Lordship without divine appointment leads to tyranny and judgment.

Abimelech in the David Narratives (Psalm Titles 34 & 56)

When David fled to Gath he feigned insanity before Achish (1 Samuel 21:10-15). The Psalter titles remember the same event but call the king “Abimelech.” David later sings:

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3)

The linking of Abimelech with deliverance themes underscores God’s protection of His anointed even in foreign courts.

Priestly Service under David

The Chronicler lists “Abimelech son of Abiathar” among those who ministered before the ark (1 Chronicles 18:16; 24:6, 31). The parallel in Samuel uses “Ahimelech,” indicating textual variation rather than a distinct individual. Either way, the name is associated with sacred service during the consolidation of the kingdom.

Theological and Ministry Significance

• God’s sovereignty over rulers: heathen kings cannot thwart covenant promises.
• Integrity in leadership: Abimelech of Gerar models receptive humility, whereas Abimelech of Judges exemplifies ambition divorced from righteousness.
• Covenant testimony: Treaties with Gentile kings prefigure the gospel’s reach to the nations.
• Pastoral application: The name Abimelech invites reflection on the dangers of self-exaltation and the blessing of recognizing God’s presence in His people.

Distribution Summary

Genesis (twenty-eight times), Judges (twenty-three), Psalms (two titles, counted once each in the Hebrew text), historical books of Samuel–Chronicles (several), and a lone reference in 1 Chronicles 4: some sixty-seven occurrences altogether, each reinforcing either divine faithfulness or divine justice.

אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֣לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֥לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ אֲבִימֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ אבימלך אבימלך׃ בַּאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ באבימלך באבימלך׃ וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ וַאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וַאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ וַאֲבִימֶ֥לֶךְ ואבימלך לַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ לַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ לַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ לאבימלך לאבימלך׃ מֵאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ מאבימלך ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ ’ă·ḇîm·me·leḵ ’ăḇîmeleḵ ’ăḇîmmeleḵ aviMelech avimMelech ba’ăḇîmeleḵ ba·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ baaviMelech la’ăḇîmeleḵ la·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ laaviMelech mê’ăḇîmeleḵ mê·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ meaviMelech vaaviMelech wa’ăḇîmeleḵ wa·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts