Abimael
Jump to: Hitchcock'sSmith'sISBEEaston'sConcordanceThesaurusHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Abimael" is of Hebrew origin, and it is generally understood to mean "my father is God" or "father sent by God." The name reflects a theophoric element, common in Hebrew names, which often incorporate references to God.

Biblical References:
Abimael is mentioned in the genealogies of the Book of Genesis. He is listed as one of the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem, who was one of Noah's sons. The specific reference to Abimael can be found in Genesis 10:28 and 1 Chronicles 1:22.

Genesis 10:28 :
"Obal, Abimael, Sheba,"

1 Chronicles 1:22 :
"Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,"

Genealogical Context:
Abimael is part of the Table of Nations, a genealogical record in Genesis 10 that outlines the descendants of Noah's sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—after the flood. Abimael is a descendant of Shem through Joktan, who is one of Eber's sons. This lineage is significant as it traces the origins of various peoples and nations in the ancient Near East.

Historical and Cultural Context:
The descendants of Joktan, including Abimael, are traditionally associated with the Arabian Peninsula. The genealogies in Genesis 10 are often seen as an attempt to map the ethnic and linguistic groups known to the ancient Israelites. Abimael and his brothers are thought to represent tribes or regions in southern Arabia, although specific historical or archaeological evidence directly linking Abimael to a particular location is not available.

Theological Significance:
While Abimael himself is not a prominent figure in biblical narratives, his inclusion in the genealogies underscores the biblical theme of the interconnectedness of all peoples through common ancestry. The genealogies serve to establish a framework for understanding the spread of humanity and the diversity of nations, all under the sovereignty of God.

Related Entries:
· Joktan: Father of Abimael and a significant figure in the genealogies of Genesis.
· Shem: Ancestor of Joktan and one of Noah's three sons, from whom many Semitic peoples are believed to have descended.
· Table of Nations: The genealogical record in Genesis 10 that outlines the descendants of Noah's sons.

References in Other Texts:
Abimael is not mentioned outside of the genealogical lists in the Bible, and there are no known references to him in other ancient Near Eastern texts or traditions. His role is primarily as a link in the genealogical chain that traces the spread of nations and peoples.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Abimael

a father sent from God

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Abimael

(father of Mael), a descendant of Joktan, (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22) and probably the progenitor of an Arab tribe (Mali).

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Father of Mael, one of the sons or descendants of Joktan, in Northern Arabia (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABIMAEL

a-bim'-a-el, ab-i-ma'-el ('abhima'el, "my father is God," or "God is father"): The ninth of the thirteen sons of Joktan, who was descendant of Shem, and son of Eber, and brother of Peleg in whose days the earth was divided (Genesis 10:25-29 1 Chronicles 1:19-23). Like some of the other names in this list, the name is linguistically south Arabian, and the tribes indicated are south Arabians. On the Arabic elements in Hebrew proper names see Halevy, Melanges d'epigraphie et d'archeologie semitiques; ZDMG, especially early in 1883; D. H. Muller, Epigraphie Denkmaler aus Arabien; Glaser, Skizze der Gesch. und Geog. Arabiens; and by index Hommel, Ancient Hebrew Tradition; and Gray, Hebrew Proper Names; and F. Giesebrecht, Die alttestamentliche Schatzung des Gottesnamens.

Willis J. Beecher

Strong's Hebrew
39. Abimael -- "a father is El," a son of Joktan, also his desc.
... 38, 39. Abimael. 40 . "a father ... desc. Transliteration: Abimael Phonetic
Spelling: (ab-ee-maw-ale') Short Definition: Abimael. Word ...
/hebrew/39.htm - 6k
Library

How Every Nation was Denominated from their First Inhabitants.
... Now Joctan, one of the sons of Heber, had these sons, Elmodad, Saleph, Asermoth,
Jera, Adoram, Aizel, Decla, Ebal, Abimael, Sabeus, Ophir, Euilat, and Jobab. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how every nation.htm

Chapter x
... And Joktan begat Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah; and Hadoram and
Uzal and Diklah; and Obal and Abimael and Sheba; and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

[Endnotes]
... Philistim. Sinite, Hadoram, " Arvadite, Uzal, " Zemarite, Diklah, " Hamathite. Obal, "
Abimael, " Sheba, " Ophir, " Havilah, " Jobab. ". JAPHETH. Gomer, Magog. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Thesaurus
Abimael (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABIMAEL. ...Abimael (2 Occurrences). Genesis 10:28
Obal, Abimael, Sheba, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/a/abimael.htm - 8k

Abim'a-el (2 Occurrences)
Abim'a-el. Abimael, Abim'a-el. Abimelech . Multi-Version Concordance
Abim'a-el (2 Occurrences). Genesis 10:28 and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba; (See ...
/a/abim'a-el.htm - 6k

Ability (34 Occurrences)

/a/ability.htm - 18k

Sheba (36 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 10:28 Obal, Abimael,
Sheba, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/sheba.htm - 32k

Obal (1 Occurrence)
... OBAL. o'-bal. See EBAL, 1. Multi-Version Concordance Obal (1 Occurrence). Genesis
10:28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/obal.htm - 7k

Ebal (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1 Chronicles 1:22 and Ebal, and
Abimael, and Sheba, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/e/ebal.htm - 14k

Almodad (2 Occurrences)
... 23). A south Arabian name, and pointing to a south Arabian tribe. See ABIMAEL.
Multi-Version Concordance Almodad (2 Occurrences). ...
/a/almodad.htm - 7k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... 3. Joktan (son of Eber) = Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram,
Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, Jobab. ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

Resources
Who are Semites? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Abimael (2 Occurrences)

Genesis 10:28
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:22
and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Abimael

Abimael: Son of Joktan

Related Terms

Abimael (2 Occurrences)

Abimelech (63 Occurrences)

Ability
Top of Page
Top of Page