Original Word: אֲבִי גִבְעוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abiy Gib`own
Pronunciation: ah-vee ghee-BOHN
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee' ghib-one')
KJV: father of Gibeon
Word Origin: [from H1 (אָב - father) and H1391 (גִּבעוֹן - Gibeon)]

1. father (i.e. founder) of Gibon
2. Abi-Gibon, perhaps an Israelite

father of Gibeon

From 'ab and Gib'own; father (i.e. Founder) of Gibon; Abi-Gibon, perhaps an Israelite -- father of Gibeon.

see HEBREW 'ab

see HEBREW Gib'own

Word Origin
from ab and Gibon, q.v.

Name and Meaning

The compound Hebrew name אֲבִי גִבְעוֹן (Abi Gibeon) literally means “father of Gibeon.” In the idiom of the Hebrew Bible, “father of” can signify the biological progenitor of a person or the founding ancestor of a settlement. As such, Abi Gibeon is best understood as the eponymous father or founder of the Benjamite town of Gibeon.

Canonical Context

No verse expressly preserves the form “Abi Gibeon,” yet the Chronicler twice records that “Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon” (1 Chronicles 8:29; 1 Chronicles 9:35). The genealogy proceeds through Jeiel’s sons to Saul, Israel’s first king. The phrase “father of Gibeon” behind those verses is the very idea conveyed by Abi Gibeon, and later Hebrew manuscripts and lexical traditions index the name accordingly.

Genealogical Significance

1 Chronicles 8 and 9 anchor the Benjamite lineage in a geographical and familial node: Gibeon, a town roughly six miles northwest of Jerusalem. By placing Jeiel/Abi Gibeon at the head of the list, Scripture accomplishes several purposes:

• It roots the royal line of Saul, and by extension the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5), in a concrete historical locale.
• It links the tribe of Benjamin to the covenant land that Joshua had apportioned (Joshua 18:25).
• It reinforces the Chronicler’s post-exilic aim of re-establishing Israel’s identity around worship and ancestry after the Babylonian captivity.

Historical Setting of Gibeon

Gibeon appears prominently in Old Testament narrative:

• Joshua 9 records the Gibeonite treaty forged through deception yet honored by Israel’s leadership, showcasing covenant integrity.
• Joshua 10:1-14 details the battle at Gibeon, where “the sun stood still” (verse 13), underscoring divine intervention.
• 2 Samuel 21 narrates the reckoning for Saul’s violation of that covenant, resulting in national atonement.
• 1 Chronicles 16:39 and 1 Kings 3:4 show the tabernacle or high place at Gibeon functioning as a sanctioned worship center prior to the temple’s construction.

All these episodes inform the stature of Gibeon’s founder. Though silent in narrative, Abi Gibeon stands behind a city that repeatedly intersects God’s redemptive dealings with Israel.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant Faithfulness. The Gibeonite treaty illustrates the irrevocable nature of an oath made before the LORD (Joshua 9:19). The city’s “father” reminds readers that covenant relationships extend beyond individuals to their descendants.
2. Divine Sovereignty in Genealogies. Chronicles demonstrates that God orchestrates history through family lines. Abi Gibeon’s place at the head of Saul’s genealogy underscores the Lord’s prerogative in raising leaders—even those who will later be set aside in favor of Davidic kingship.
3. Continuity Between Testaments. Paul, a Benjamite (Romans 11:1), often contrasts the failed kingship of Saul with the triumphant kingship of Christ. The ancestral thread that begins with Abi Gibeon therefore contributes indirectly to New Testament theology.

Ministry Applications

• Foundations Matter. Just as a city’s spiritual legacy traces back to its founder, so modern ministries are shaped by the convictions laid at their start (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).
• Honor Covenants. Leaders who keep their word—seen in Israel’s faithfulness to the Gibeonite pact—model integrity that glorifies God.
• Embrace Historical Identity. Believers can draw strength from knowing how God has worked through previous generations, reinforcing confidence that He remains faithful today (Hebrews 13:8).

Related Figures and Places

Jeiel – The Chronicler’s explicit “father of Gibeon,” functionally equivalent to Abi Gibeon.

Maacah – Jeiel’s wife, listed in both genealogical texts.

Kish and Saul – Direct descendants, bridging the gap from the founding household to national leadership.

Gibeon – A Levitical city allotted to the sons of Aaron (Joshua 21:17), later integrated into Jerusalem’s worship orbit.

Christological Foreshadowing

The contrast between Saul’s faltering kingship (rooted in Abi Gibeon’s line) and the everlasting throne promised to David (2 Samuel 7:16) magnifies Christ, the ultimate Davidic King. Genealogical details, however obscure, converge to highlight the reliability of God’s promises that culminate in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33).

Summary

Although the specific name Abi Gibeon never surfaces in narrative form, its concept underlies key texts that tie Benjamin’s heritage, Israel’s covenant record, and the unfolding plan of redemption together. The founder of Gibeon silently but decisively shapes Scripture’s historical, theological, and pastoral landscape.

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts