Original Word: אֲחִיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achiyah
Pronunciation: ah-khee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ee-yaw)
KJV: Ahiah, Ahijah
NASB: Ahijah, Ahiah
Word Origin: [from H251 (אָח - brother) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. brother (i.e. worshipper) of Jah
2. Achijah, the name of nine Israelites

Ahiah, Ahijah

Or (prolonged) pachiyahuw {akh-ee-yaw'-hoo}; from 'ach and Yahh; brother (i.e. Worshipper) of Jah; Achijah, the name of nine Israelites -- Ahiah, Ahijah.

see HEBREW 'ach

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
from ach and Yah
Definition
"brother of Yah," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Ahiah (1), Ahijah (22).

אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲחִיָּה (always, except where other form noted), אֲחִי

proper name, masculine (brother of Yah(u), compare Phoenician חמלך brother of Milk, & especially אחתמלך sister of Milk, where אחת must be construct since מלך is a male deity; compare Carthaginian חתמלקרת Eut²¹³).

1 a priest 1 Samuel 14:3,18.

2 Scribe 1 Kings 4:3.

3 Prophet 1 Kings 11:29,30; 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 14:2,4; 1 Kings 15:29; 2Chronicles 9:29; 1 Kings 14:4,5,6,18; 2Chronicles 10:15 (last five אֲחִיָהוּ ).

4 father of king Baasha 1 Kings 15:27,33; 1 Kings 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9 .

5 grandson of Hezron 1 Chronicles 2:25, or perhaps proper name, feminine, mother of preceding four, compare Be.

6 son of Ehud, of Benj. 1 Chronicles 8:7 = אֲחוֺחַ, 1 Chronicles 8:4.

7 one of David's heroes 1 Chronicles 11:36.

8 a Levite, David's time 1 Chronicles 26:20 .

9 a chief man under Nehem. Nehemiah 10:27.

10 a Gadite 1 Chronicles 5:15 (אֲחִי).

11 a man of Asher 1 Chronicles 7:34 (id.)

Meaning and Overview

Ahijah (“Yah is my brother” or “brother of Yah”) designates at least eight distinct men in the Old Testament. Together their accounts span the tribal period of Benjamin, the early monarchy under Saul and David, the divided kingdom era, and the post-exilic community. Through priests, prophets, royal officials, warriors, and covenant signatories the name becomes associated with divine guidance, judgment, and covenant fidelity.

Occurrences at a Glance

1 Samuel 14:3, 18; 1 Kings 4:3; 1 Kings 11:29-31; 12:15; 1 Kings 14:2-18; 1 Kings 15:27, 29, 33; 1 Kings 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9; 1 Chronicles 2:25; 1 Chronicles 8:7; 1 Chronicles 11:36; 1 Chronicles 26:20; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 10:15; Nehemiah 10:26.

Ahijah son of Ahitub – Priest under Saul (1 Samuel 14:3, 18)

• Lineage: Descended from Eli, brother to Ichabod.
• Ministry: “Wearing an ephod” (1 Samuel 14:3) he served alongside King Saul during Israel’s warfare with the Philistines.
• Significance: His consultation of the Ark underscores the continued priestly mediation even amid Saul’s erratic leadership. The text foreshadows the coming fall of Eli’s house and the rise of Zadok’s line.

Ahijah the Shilonite – Prophet of the Kingdom Division (1 Kings 11–14; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 10:15)

• Call and Commission: While Jeroboam was still a labor foreman, Ahijah “took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam, ‘Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says’ ” (1 Kings 11:30-31).
• Fulfillment: His word came to pass when the ten tribes rebelled (1 Kings 12:15).
• Second Oracle: Years later he pronounced doom upon Jeroboam’s idolatrous house (1 Kings 14:6-16). Even in judgment mercy appears: “All Israel will mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam’s house will be brought to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD” (1 Kings 14:13).
• Legacy: Ahijah’s prophecies are cited by the Chronicler as authoritative historical sources (2 Chronicles 9:29). They illustrate the inviolability of God’s covenant promises to David while affirming His holiness in judging sin.

Ahijah father of Baasha – Catalyst for Northern Dynastic Turmoil (1 Kings 15:27, 29, 33; 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9)

• Identity: A man of Issachar whose son Baasha assassinated Nadab son of Jeroboam and seized Israel’s throne.
• Consequence: Because Baasha “walked in the way of Jeroboam” (1 Kings 15:34), Ahijah’s lineage was later “swept away” (1 Kings 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9), demonstrating that ungodly dynasties reap the same judgment pronounced on their predecessors.

Ahijah son of Shisha – Royal Secretary of Solomon (1 Kings 4:3)

• Role: Paired with his brother Elihoreph as recorder, he preserved royal decrees and chronicles during Solomon’s reign.
• Significance: His administrative service contributed to the orderly governance that characterized Solomon’s early years of wisdom and prosperity.

Ahijah the Pelonite – One of David’s Mighty Men (1 Chronicles 11:36)

• Placement: Listed among “the Thirty,” elite warriors whose exploits cemented David’s kingdom.
• Spiritual Note: The inclusion of another Ahijah alongside heroes such as Benaiah and Asahel highlights the diverse gifts God employed to secure Israel’s borders and worship center.

Ahijah the Levite Treasurer (1 Chronicles 26:20)

• Office: Oversaw the treasuries of the house of God and the dedicated gifts from war.
• Ministry Importance: Proper stewardship of holy resources protected the sanctity of worship and funded Temple operations—a principle echoed in later covenant renewals.

Genealogical Mentions

• Benjaminite Clan (1 Chronicles 8:7) – Establishes early tribal roots.
• Jerahmeelite Line (1 Chronicles 2:25) – Links name to Judah’s southern families.

These records affirm the historic reliability of Israel’s tribal structures and God’s faithfulness to every branch.

Post-Exilic Covenant Signatory (Nehemiah 10:26)

• Context: After the wall was rebuilt, leaders pledged obedience to the Law.
• Lesson: A new generation bearing the ancient name aligns with the continual call to covenant loyalty.

Theological and Ministerial Themes

1. Prophetic Certainty – Ahijah the Shilonite demonstrates that the spoken word of God shapes history, vindicating divine foreknowledge.
2. Holiness and Judgment – Priestly Ahijah’s lineage decline and Baasha’s downfall show that privilege without obedience invites discipline.
3. Stewardship and Record-Keeping – Whether safeguarding Temple treasuries or preserving royal records, administrative faithfulness is portrayed as spiritual service.
4. Remnant Principle – Even in Jeroboam’s apostate household, God notes “something good” (1 Kings 14:13), prefiguring the Gospel promise that God will preserve a people for Himself.

Foreshadowing Christ

The Shilonite’s torn cloak symbolizes a kingdom divided for sin; Christ later heals division by uniting Jew and Gentile “into one body” (Ephesians 2:14). Likewise, the faithful priesthood longed for in Samuel’s day finds fulfillment in the eternal priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 7:24-25).

Practical Application

Believers are called to heed God’s Word as uttered by prophets like Ahijah, to prize integrity in every ministry—from battlefield courage to bookkeeping—and to trust that divine judgment and mercy operate together for the glory of God and the ultimate good of His covenant people.

אֲחִיָּ֑ה אֲחִיָּ֔ה אֲחִיָּ֖ה אֲחִיָּ֗ה אֲחִיָּ֗הוּ אֲחִיָּ֜הוּ אֲחִיָּ֣ה אֲחִיָּ֣הוּ אֲחִיָּ֤ה אֲחִיָּ֥ה אֲחִיָּ֥הוּ אֲחִיָּֽה׃ אֲחִיָּה֙ אֲחִיָּה֩ אחיה אחיה׃ אחיהו וַאֲחִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה וַאֲחִיָּ֣ה וַאֲחִיָּ֥ה ואחיה ואחיהו לַֽאֲחִיָּ֔ה לאחיה ’ă·ḥî·yā·hū ’ă·ḥî·yāh ’ăḥîyāh ’ăḥîyāhū achiYah achiYahu la’ăḥîyāh la·’ă·ḥî·yāh laachiYah vaachiYah vaachiYahu wa’ăḥîyāh wa’ăḥîyāhū wa·’ă·ḥî·yā·hū wa·’ă·ḥî·yāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts