Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Abida" (Hebrew: אֲבִידָע, ʾĂḇîḏāʿ) is believed to mean "father of knowledge" or "my father knows." The name reflects a common practice in ancient Semitic cultures of incorporating the divine or paternal element into personal names.

Biblical References:
Abida is mentioned in the genealogical records of the Old Testament. He is one of the sons of Midian, who was a son of Abraham through his wife Keturah. The primary reference to Abida is found in the Book of Genesis:

· Genesis 25:1-4 : "Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah."

· 1 Chronicles 1:32-33 : "The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah."

Historical and Cultural Context:
Abida is part of the genealogical lists that trace the descendants of Abraham, a central figure in the Hebrew Bible. These lists serve to establish the lineage and tribal affiliations of various groups in the ancient Near East. Abida, as a son of Midian, is associated with the Midianites, a nomadic tribe that played a significant role in the history of the Israelites.

The Midianites are frequently mentioned in the Bible, often in the context of their interactions with the Israelites. They were known for their trade and commerce, as well as their conflicts with the Israelites during the period of the Judges. The genealogical mention of Abida and his brothers underscores the interconnectedness of the various tribes and peoples in the biblical narrative.

Significance in Biblical Narrative:
While Abida himself does not play a prominent role in the biblical accounts, his inclusion in the genealogies highlights the broader theme of God's promise to Abraham to make him "a father of many nations" (Genesis 17:4). The descendants of Keturah, including Abida, represent the fulfillment of this promise, as they became progenitors of various tribes and nations.

The genealogical records, including the mention of Abida, serve to document the spread of Abraham's descendants and their influence across the region. These records also provide a framework for understanding the complex relationships between the different groups mentioned in the Bible.

Related Entries:
· Abraham
· Keturah
· Midian
· Midianites
· Genealogies in the BibleOr Abi'dah, father of knowledge; knowing, one of the five sons of Midian, who was the son of Abraham by Keturah (1 Chronicles 1:33), and apparently the chief of an Arab tribe. ABIDA

a-bi'-da ('abhidha`, "father of knowledge," or "my father knows"): A son of Midian and grandson of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:4 1 Chronicles 1:33). Abidah in the King James Version in Gen.

28. Abida -- "my father took knowledge," a son of Midian
... 27, 28. Abida. 29 . "my father took knowledge," a son of Midian. Transliteration:
Abida Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-daw') Short Definition: Abida. ...
/hebrew/28.htm - 6k

Chapter xxv
... And the sons of Midian: Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. ... "Abida"
and "Eldaah" had best be classed merely as Arab tribes not identified. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

Abida (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABIDA. ...Abida (2 Occurrences). Genesis 25:4
The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. ...
/a/abida.htm - 7k

Keturah (4 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Genesis 25:4 The sons of Midian: Ephah,
Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ...
/k/keturah.htm - 9k

Ketu'rah (4 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Genesis 25:4 And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. (See RSV). ...
/k/ketu'rah.htm - 7k

Eldaah (2 Occurrences)
... Eldaah (2 Occurrences). Genesis 25:4 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch,
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ...
/e/eldaah.htm - 7k

Epher (4 Occurrences)
... Epher (4 Occurrences). Genesis 25:4 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch,
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ...
/e/epher.htm - 8k

Elda'ah (2 Occurrences)
... Elda'ah (2 Occurrences). Genesis 25:4 And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher,
and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ...
/e/elda'ah.htm - 6k

Abi'da (1 Occurrence)
Abi'da. Abida, Abi'da. Abidah . ... Abi'da (1 Occurrence). Genesis 25:4 And the
sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. ...
/a/abi'da.htm - 6k

Hanoch (6 Occurrences)
... Hanoch (6 Occurrences). Genesis 25:4 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch,
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ...
/h/hanoch.htm - 8k

Enoch (18 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 25:4 And the sons of Midian
were Ephah, and Epher, and Enoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. ...
/e/enoch.htm - 15k

Abib (5 Occurrences)

/a/abib.htm - 10k

What is the significance of Midian in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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