Original Word: עַמִּיהוּד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Ammiyhuwd
Pronunciation: am-mee-HOOD
Phonetic Spelling: (am-mee-hood')
KJV: Ammihud
NASB: Ammihud
Word Origin: [from H5971 (עַם - People) and H1935 (הוֹד - splendor)]

1. people of splendor
2. Ammihud, the name of three Israelites

Ammihud

From am and howd; people of splendor; Ammihud, the name of three Israelites -- Ammihud.

see HEBREW am

see HEBREW howd

Word Origin
from am and hod
Definition
"my kinsman is majesty," four Isr., also a Geshurite
NASB Translation
Ammihud (10).

עַמִּיהוּד proper name, masculine (my kinsman is majesty); — ᵐ5 (Σ)εμιουδ, Αμιουδ, etc.:

1 a Geshurite 2 Samuel 13:37 Qr (> Kt עַמִּיחוּר, compare Dr and others, Gray^{Prop. N. 43}).

2 an Ephraimite Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:18; Numbers 7:48,53; Numbers 10:22 (all P), 1 Chronicles 7:26.

3 a Simeonite Numbers 34:20.

4 a Naphtalite Numbers 34:28.

5 a Judahite 1 Chronicles 9:4.

Ammihud

Overview

Ammihud appears nine times in the Old Testament as the name of at least four different men. Though none of them is the main focus of a biblical narrative, each stands at a strategic node in Israel’s covenant story, linking family lines to tribal leadership, worship, land distribution, and post-exilic restoration.

1. Ephraimite Ancestor of Joshua (Numbers 1:10; 2:18; 7:48; 7:53; 10:22; 1 Chronicles 7:26)

• In the wilderness census the Lord appointed “Elishama son of Ammihud” to represent Ephraim (Numbers 1:10), and the same description recurs in the camp order (2:18), the Tabernacle offerings (7:48, 53), and the marching formation (10:22).
• 1 Chronicles traces the lineage: “Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son, Joshua his son” (1 Chronicles 7:26). Ammihud therefore stands as Joshua’s great-grandfather, anchoring the spiritual heritage of the man who would lead Israel into the land.

Significance: Ammihud’s placement in this genealogy sanctifies family continuity from Egypt to Canaan, showing that the Lord prepares deliverers generations in advance and weaves private faithfulness into public history.

2. Simeonite Line of Land Allocation (Numbers 34:20)

When Israel stood on the plains of Moab, God commanded Moses to appoint one leader from each tribe to apportion Canaan. For Simeon the chosen official was “Shemuel son of Ammihud” (Numbers 34:20).

Significance: Through his son, Ammihud lent his name to the equitable distribution of the inheritance. The event illustrates how ordinary fathers contributed to covenant faithfulness by raising sons able to shoulder national responsibility.

3. Naphtalite Line of Land Allocation (Numbers 34:28)

The same commission lists “Pedahel son of Ammihud” for Naphtali.

Significance: A second Ammihud (or perhaps the same name borne in a different tribe) reminds us that the Lord raises parallel streams of leadership across the nation, ensuring that every tribe shares in the promises.

4. Judahite Root in the Post-Exilic Community (1 Chronicles 9:4)

In the record of those who returned to dwell in Jerusalem after the exile we read: “Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the descendants of Perez son of Judah”.

Significance: This Ammihud’s presence in the restored community highlights the preservation of Davidic-Judahite lines despite judgment and dispersion, underscoring the reliability of God’s covenant with David and the anticipation of Messiah.

Themes Emerging from the Passages

• Covenant Continuity: From pre-conquest wilderness to post-exilic Jerusalem, the repeated appearance of the name Ammihud underscores God’s unbroken redemptive line.
• Fatherhood and Leadership: Each Ammihud is remembered chiefly through his son, reminding readers that lasting influence often flows through the disciples we nurture rather than titles we hold.
• Tribal Unity within Diversity: Ephraim, Simeon, Naphtali, and Judah all share this name in their pedigrees, reflecting a common spiritual heritage that links every tribe to the same Lord.
• Preparation for Ministry: The great-grandfather of Joshua models how hidden generations prepare leaders whom God will later bring to the forefront, encouraging believers to invest faithfully even when their own role seems minor.

Practical Reflections for Ministry

1. Invest generationally. Ammihud never led Israel directly, yet his faith echoes through Joshua’s conquest and the faithful princes who secured Israel’s inheritance.
2. Embrace obscurity for kingdom impact. Scripture honors unnoticed obedience; names like Ammihud show that God records every act of quiet faith.
3. Encourage tribal (or congregational) collaboration. Just as multiple tribes produced men named Ammihud who served side by side, modern ministries should value diverse gifts within the one body of Christ.
4. Trust God’s preservation. The post-exilic Ammihud assures believers that divine promises outlast exile, decline, and apparent loss.

Thus, the nine brief references to Ammihud collectively point to the providence of God who shapes history through faithful families, secures His people’s inheritance, and preserves covenant hope from generation to generation.

עַמִּיה֑וּד עַמִּיה֤וּד עַמִּיה֥וּד עַמִּיהֽוּד׃ עמיהוד עמיהוד׃ ‘am·mî·hūḏ ‘ammîhūḏ ammiHudInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts