A
Aaron. Air-un.
Brother of Moses. First high priest of Israel.
Aaronic. Air-ahn-ik.
Related to Aaron, as in “Aaronic priests,” who were priests descended from Aaron.
Ab. Ab.
Fifth month on the Jewish calendar, roughly equivalent to July–August. See Calendar chart.
Abaddon (Hebrew). Uh-bad-dun.
Place of destruction or angel of destruction. Used as a synonym for death in the Old Testament. In Revelation 9:11 Abaddon (Apollyon) is the angel of the bottomless pit or Abyss.
Abana. Ab-uh-nuh or Uh-ban-uh.
A river in Damascus.
Abba (Aramaic). Ab-buh.
An endearing term for “father.”
Abdeel. Ab-dee-el.
The father of Shelemiah mentioned in Jeremiah 36.
Abdon. Ab-dahn.
1. A judge who ruled in Israel for eight years (Judges 12:13–15).
2. Shashak’s son; a family from the tribe of Benjamin that lived in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:23–25).
3. Ancestor of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:30; 9:35, 36).
4. An official that King Josiah sent to the prophetess Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:20–22; called Acbor in 2 Kings 22:12).
5. A town for Levites from the tribe of Asher (Joshua 21:30; 1 Chronicles 6:74).
Abednego. Uh-bed-nee-go.
Originally called Azariah, he was one of Daniel’s three friends whom God saved from Nebucchadnezar’s furnace (Daniel 1:7; 3:25, 26).
Abel. Ay-buhl.
Second son of Adam and Eve; murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1–8).
Abel Meholah. Ay-buhl-muh-ho-lah (strong accent on ho). (Also spelled Abelmeholah.)
Located in the Jordan valley of Manesseh’s tribe; where Elisha was born (1 Kings 19:16).
Abi. A-bye.
Short for Abijah, King Hezekiah’s mother (2 Kings 18:2).
Abiah. Uh-bye-uh. (Also spelled Abijah)
1. The second son of Samuel (1 Samuel 8:2, 1 Chronicles 6:28).
2. A wife of Hezron, father of Caleb, whom he married after the death of Caleb’s mother; she was the mother of Asshur (1 Chronicles 2:24).
3. A son of Becher, descendant of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:8).
See Abijah.
Abiathar. Ah-bye-uh-thar.
1. Son of Ahimelech, he escaped and took refuge with David when Doeg, at Saul’s command, murdered the priest’s family (1 Samuel 22:20, 22; 23:6, 9; 2 Samuel 8:17).
2. A joint high priest with Zadok during the time of King David (2 Samuel 15:24–29, 35, 36; 17:15; 19:11; 20:25). He conspired with Adonijah in an attempt to make Adonijah king after David (1 Kings 1, 2).
Abib. A-bib.
The name of the first month of the year on the Jewish calendar; changed to Nisan after the exile. Roughly equivalent to March–April. See Calendar chart.
Abiel. Ay-be-el.
1. Saul and Abner’s grandfather (1 Samuel 14:51).
2. An Arbathite, one of David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:32).
Abiezer. Ah-by-eez-er.
1. A son of Manasseh and grandson of Joseph (Joshua 17:2). Gideon was descended from his clan (Judges 6:11).
2. One of David’s mighty men, from Anathoth (1 Chronicles 11:28).
Abiezrite. A-by-ez-rite (strong accent on ez).
Related to, or descended from, Abiezer. Warriors descended from Manesseh’s tribe (Judges 6:11, 12; 8:2, 32).
Abigail. Ab-ih-gale.
1. Wife of Nabal who married David after Nabal’s death (1 Samuel 25:14, 39–42).
2. Wife of Jether (Ithra), and mother of Amasa (1 Chronicles 2:16, 17).
Abihu. Uh-bye-hew.
Son of Aaron. Died when he offered a displeasing sacrifice to God (Leviticus 10:1, 2; Numbers 3:2–4; 26:61; 1 Chronicles 24:1, 2).
Abijah. Uh-bye-juh. (Sometimes spelled Abiah, especially in KJV.)
1. One of Samuel’s sons who reigned as judge for three years. Became corrupt (1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 6:28).
2. Son of Jeroboam I who died as a child in fulfillment of a prophecy by Ahijah (1 Kings 14:1–18).
3. A wife of Judah’s grandson Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:24).
4. Hezekiah’s mother (2 Chronicles 29:1).
5. The seventh son of Beker from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:8).
6. Aaronic priest; the eighth ancestral head of the 24 priestly groups that King David established (1 Chronicles 24:10). John the Baptist’s father belonged to this group (Luke 1:5).
7. A priest during Nehemiah’s time who returned to Babylon with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 10:7).
8. Son of Rehoboam, second king of Judah (2 Chronicles 12:16–14:1). See Kings of Israel and Judah chart.
See Abiah.
Abijam. Uh-bye-jum.
See Abijah, #8.
Abilene. A-bi-lee-neh or Ab-i-lee-neh.
A tetrarchy northwest of Damascus, which eventually became part of Syria (Luke 3:1).
Abimelech. Uh-bim-eh-lek.
1. King of Gerar (probably a title, as Pharaoh was for the king of Egypt), who took Sarah when Abraham said she was his sister instead of his wife. Abimelech was warned of God in a dream and returned Sarah to Abraham. Abimelech later signed a treaty with Abraham concerning a well at Beersheba (Genesis 20; 21:22–34).
2. King of Gerar who was deceived when Isaac claimed Rebekah, his wife, was his sister (Genesis 26:1–11).
3. Son of Gideon by a concubine; murdered 70 sons of Gideon in an effort to become king in Shechem (Judges 8:31; 9:1–57).
4. Philistine king mentioned in the title of Psalm 34.
5. Abiathar’s son; a priest during the reign of David (1 Chronicles 18:14–16).
Abinadab. Uh-bin-uh-dab.
1. A relative of King Saul. The ark of the covenant was placed in his home when it was returned by the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1; 2 Samuel 6:3; 1 Chronicles 13:7).
2. King David’s brother; a soldier in Saul’s army against the Philistines (1 Samuel 16:8; 17:13; 1 Chronicles 2:13).
3. A son of King Saul; the Philistines killed King Saul and Abinadab at Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39; 10:2).
4. The husband of a daughter of King Solomon (1 Kings 4:11).
Abinoam. Uh-bin-o-am.
Barak’s father (Judges 4:6; 5:1).
Abishai. Uh-bish-ay-eye.
King David’s nephew from his sister; a most loyal and brave commander in King David’s army (1 Samuel 26:6–9; 2 Samuel 2:18, 24; 3:20; 10:10, 14; 16:9, 11).
Abishalom. Uh-bish-uh-lum.
See Absalom.
Abraham. Ay-bruh-ham.
The father of Isaac and grandfather of Jacob (Israel). His name means “father of a multitude.” The Jews often referred to themselves as children of Abraham (cf. John 8:33, 39). In the New Testament, Christians are referred to as children of Abraham (Romans 4:11, 12).
Abram. Ay-brum.
The name given to Abraham by his parents. It means “exalted father” (Genesis 12:1).
Absalom. Ab-suh-lum.
Third son of King David (2 Samuel 3:2, 3). His name is also spelled Abishalom (1 Kings 15:2, 10).
Accho. Ak-oh.
A major seaport occupied by Israel during the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. Centuries later it was renamed Ptolemais, after Ptolemy the king of Egypt who rebuilt it about 100 b.c. Paul stopped here on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7).
Achaia. Uh-kay-uh.
Southern province of Greece; its capital was Corinth (Acts 18:12, 27; 19:21; Romans 15:26).
Achan. Ay-kan.
Israelite who disobeyed God’s orders by taking spoils from Jericho; Achan and his family were stoned in the valley of Achor (Joshua 7).
Achbor. Ak-bor.
Father to a king of Edom named Baalhanan (also spelled Baal-Hanan) (Genesis 36:38, 39; 1 Chronicles 1:49).
Achish. Ay-kish.
A Philistine king; David fled to him for protection from Saul (1 Samuel 21:10–15).
Achmetha. Ock-mee-thuh. (Also known as Ecbatana.)
The ancient capital of Media. The decree of Cyrus, which gave permission to the Jews to rebuild the temple, was found in a palace there (Ezra 6:1–3).
acropolis. uh-krop-uh-lus.
A high, fortified part of an ancient Greek city. The Parthenon is located on the Acropolis in Athens.
Adaiah. Add-uh-eye-uh or A-day-yuh.
1. Josiah’s maternal grandfather, from the land of Bozkath (2 Kings 22:1).
2. One of Shimei’s sons from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:21).
3. A Levite descendant of Gershom (1 Chronicles 6:41–43).
4. Aaronic priest after the exile; a head of family living in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:10–12; Nehemiah 11:12).
5. Maaseiah’s father; helped Jehoida put Joash on the throne (2 Chronicles 23:1).
6. A son of Bani guilty of marrying a foreign woman (Ezra 10:29).
7. Another man guilty of marrying a foreign woman (Ezra 10:39).
8. A descendant of Judah by Perez; lived in Jerusalem after the exile (Nehemiah 11:4, 5).
Adam (Hebrew). uh-dahm.
The first man created by God. Also the Hebrew word for “man.”
Adamah (Hebrew). Ad-uh-mah.
A walled city that belongs to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:35, 36).
Adar. Ay-dar.
Twelfth month on the Jewish calendar, roughly equivalent to February–March. See Calendar chart.
Admah. Ad-muh.
A city near Sodom that was destroyed by God (Deuteronomy 29:23).
Adonai (Hebrew). Ad-owe-nye.
Hebrew word for “God” or “gods.”
Adonijah. Ad-o-nye-juh.
King David’s fourth son; though next in line after Absalom, he was passed over in favor of Solomon, who succeeded the throne (1 Kings 1:5–2:27).
Adoniram. Uh-don-ih-ram.
A prominent overseer of labor during the reigns of David, Solomon, and Rehoboam (1 Kings 4:6; 5:14). Also spelled Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 12:18) or Hadoram (2 Chronicles 10:18) in some translations.
Adoram. Uh-doe-rum.
See Adoniram.
Adramyttium. Ad-ruh-mitt-ee-um.
Located on the western coast of Asia Minor. Paul took a ship, native to the port of Adramyttium, on his way to Rome (Acts 27:2).
Adriatic. Ay-dree-at-ic.
A sea that is located between Italy and Greece.
Adullam. A-dull-lum.
A place in the hill country of Judah. The limestone caves there were used as places of refuge. David hid there to escape King Saul (1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15).
Aegean. A-jee-un.
A sea that is located between Greece and Asia Minor.
Aeneas. Ee-nee-us.
A paralyzed man who was healed by the apostle Peter. His healing brought many converts (Acts 9:33–35).
Aenon. Ee-nun.
A place west of the Jordan near Salim where there was “much water” and was used by John the Baptist to baptize people (John 3:23).
Agabus. Ag-uh-bus.
A prophet named in Acts 11:28 and Acts 21:10. Most believe the two references are to the same person.
Agag. Ay-gag.
Title of the king of Amalek; two are mentioned in the Old Testament:
1. King in Balaam’s prophecy (Numbers 24:7).
2. King spared by Saul but killed by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:7–33).
Agagite. Ay-guh-gite.
A title given to Haman as an enemy of the Jews (Esther 3:1, 10; 8:5; 9:24).
agapao (Greek). ah-guh-pah-oh.
Greek word for “love” (the verb). See agape.
agape (Greek). uh-gah-pay.
Greek word for “love” (the noun). It describes an active, intelligent goodwill toward another without regard to the response. (It is sometimes described as love “in spite of” as opposed to “because of.”)
agonia (Greek). ag-o-nee-uh.
The Greek word for “agony.” Used to describe Jesus’ pain in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).
agora (Greek). ag-uh-ruh.
Greek word for “marketplace.” A city’s gathering place in Bible times.
Agrippa. Uh-grip-puh.
1. Herod Agrippa I. Grandson of Herod the Great (the king who tried to kill the infant Jesus). He is the Herod who had the apostle James killed (Acts 12:2). Herod’s death (in a.d. 44) is recorded in Acts 12:20–23.
2. Herod Agrippa II. Son of Agrippa I, he is the King Agrippa before whom Paul made his defense in Acts 25:23–26:32.
Agur. Ay-gur.
Collector of proverbial sayings; inspired by God to write Proverbs 30. Some students believe it to be a pseudonym for Solomon.
Ahab. Ay-hab.
Seventh king of Israel, after Omri. He ruled for 22 years (1 Kings 16:29). His wife was Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31). See Kings of Israel and Judah Chart.
Ahasuerus. Uh-haz-you-ee-rus. (Also known as Xerxes.)
King of Persia in the King James Version; otherwise known as Xerxes.
1. King of Persia in the book of Esther.
2. King of Persia mentioned in Ezra 4:6.
3. The father of Darius the Mede in Daniel 9:1.
Ahaz. Ay-haz.
Eleventh king of Judah, after Jotham; father of Hezekiah. It was to him Isaiah made his famous prophecy about the virgin’s conception of, and giving birth to, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:10–14). See Kings of Israel and Judah Chart.
Ahaziah. Ay-huh-zye-uh.
1. Eighth king of the northern kingdom of Israel, son of Ahab and Jezebel; he ruled just two years (1 Kings 22:51). See Kings of Israel and Judah Chart.
2. Sixth king of the Judah, son of Jehoram (Joram) of Judah and Athaliah, who was related to Ahab of Israel (2 Kings 8:24–26); also known as Jehoahaz. When he was killed in the coup of Jehu (2 Kings 9:27), his mother attempted to destroy the kingly line, usurping the throne and ruling six years before being deposed (2 Kings 11). See Kings of Israel and Judah Chart.
Ahiah. Uh-high-uh.
See Ahijah.
Ahijah. Uh-high-juh. (Also spelled Ahiah.)
1. Ahitub’s son who succeeded Eli as priest. Brought the ark of the covenant to Saul to seek God about a war against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:3, 18).
2. Shisha’s son who served as a scribe to Solomon (1 Kings 4:3).
3. A prophet of Shiloh who prophesied Jeroboam’s role as king of Israel (1 Kings 11:29–39; 2 Chronicles 10:15).
4. Father to Israel’s king, Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar (1 Kings 15:27).
5. Jerahmeel’s son and member of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:25).
6. Related to Benjamin’s tribe; mentioned in connection with Ehud’s family (1 Chronicles 8:1, 7).
7. One of “the thirty” among David’s warriors (2 Chronicles 11:36).
8. A Levite who maintained the treasury in the temple during David’s reign (1 Chronicles 26:20).
9. A leader who took an oath to obey God (Nehemiah 10:1, 26).
Ahikam. Uh-high-kum.
Son of Shaphan; one of the officials King Josiah sent to ask the prophetess Huldah about the book of the Law (2 Kings 22:12).
Ahilud. A-high-lud.
Father of the recorder, Jehoshaphat, during the reign of David (2 Samuel 8:16).
Ahimaaz. Uh-him-ay-az.
1. Father of Saul’s wife Ahinoam (1 Samuel 14:50).
2. High priest, son of Zadok (1 Chronicles 6:8).
Ahimelech. A-him-uh-leck.
1. A priest who innocently helped David and his men get away from Saul (1 Samuel 21, 22).
2. A Hittite warrior who went with David to King Saul’s camp (1 Samuel 26:6).
3. Son of Abiathar and grandson of Ahimelech (#1); served as priest during the reign of David (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 24:3, 6, 31).
Ahinoam. Uh-hin-o-am.
1. Wife of King Saul (1 Samuel 14:50).
2. Wife of King David and mother of David’s first son, Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2; 1 Chronicles 3:1).
Ahisamach. A-his-a-mak.
Descended from the tribe of Dan; Aholiab’s father (Exodus 31:6; 35:34; 38:23).
Ahithophel. A-hith-o-fel.
A respected advisor of King David who conspired with Absalom to take over the kingdom; his advice was not taken and Absalom’s attempt was unsuccessful (2 Samuel 17:4–14).
Ahitub. A-high-tub.
1. Descendant of Ithamar; son of Phineas and father of Ahijah. (1 Samuel 14:3). Father of Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:9). (Some suppose Ahijah and Ahimelech to be the same person; others, that they are brothers.)
2. Descendant of Aaron; Amariah’s son and father of Zadok the priest (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:7, 8).
Aholiab. Uh-ho-lih-ab.
Descended from the tribe of Dan; equipped with divine skill to construct the tabernacle (Exodus 31:6).
Ahuzzath. Uh-huz-uth.
Abimelech’s advisor; joined Abimelech on a trip to Beersheba to make a treaty with Isaac (Genesis 26:26).
Ai. Ay-eye. (Also spelled Hai.)
A town located near Bethel, where Abraham pitched his tent (Genesis 12:8; 13:3). It was the second Canaanite town conquered by Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 7, 8).
Aijalon. Ay-juh-lon. (Also spelled Ajalon.)
1. City in the tribe of Dan. It was in the valley of Aijalon that Israel fought when Joshua ordered the sun and moon to stand still (Joshua 10:12). It was also designated as a city of refuge (1 Chronicles 6:69).
2. A city in the tribe of Zebulon (Judges 12:12).
Ajalon. Aj-uh-lon.
See Aijalon.
Akkub. Ak-ub.
1. One of Elionai’s seven sons (1 Chronicles 3:24).
2. A Levite who founded a family to be stationed at the King’s Gate (1 Chronicles 9:17).
3. The head of a family of temple servants (Ezra 2:45).
4. A Levite who instructed the people from the book of the Law (Nehemiah 8:7). Possibly the same as #2 or #3.
alabaster. al-uh-bas-ter (strong accent on al).
A stone used to make vessels that held perfume or ointment (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37).
Alashehir. Al-uh-shuh-here (strong accent on here).
Modern name of the city of Philadelphia, in Asia Minor (in modern Turkey), one of the churches mentioned in Revelation 3.
Alcmene. Alk-mee-nee.
Mother of Hercules in Greek mythology.
aleph (Hebrew). ah-leff.
The first letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
Alexander. Al-ex-an-der.
1. A son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the cross of Jesus (Mark 15:21).
2. A relative of the high priest Annas. (Acts 4:6).
3. A Jew who was put in front of a noisy crowd in Ephesus to make a defense (Acts 19:33).
4. A metal worker who treated Paul and the gospel with contempt (2 Timothy 4:14). Paul handed him, along with Hymenaeus, over to Satan (1 Timothy 1:19, 20).
Alexandria. Al-iks-an-dree-uh.
A city in Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea founded by Alexander the Great in 322 b.c. It was the hometown of Apollos (Acts 18:24).
almah (Hebrew). al-mah.
Hebrew word for “virgin” (Isaiah 7:14).
alpha. (Greek). al-fuh.
The first letter in the Greek alphabet. When alpha is used with omega, it refers to “the beginning and the end”; used to explain God (Revelation 1:8).
Alphaeus. Al-fee-us. (Also spelled Alpheus.)
1. Father of Levi (i. e., Matthew) (Mark 2:14).
2. Father of James the less (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).
Some students have suggested that these two are the same person, but that is not likely.
Alpheus. Al-fee-us.
See Alphaeus.
altaschith (Hebrew). al-tas-kith.
Found notated in the titles of Psalms 57, 58, 59 and 75. Means “do not destroy” in Hebrew.
Amalek. Am-uh-lek.
1. Son of Eliphaz (Esau’s oldest son) by his concubine Timna (Genesis 36:12; 1 Chronicles 1:36).
2. Country of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8; Deuteronomy 25:17).
Amalekites. Am-uh-leh-kites or Uh-mal-ih-kites.
Descendants of Esau; kept the feud of Jacob and Esau going throughout history. Eventually were destroyed by Israel (Deuteronomy 25:17–19).
Amariah. Am-uh-rye-uh (strong accent on rye).
1. Levite and relative of Ezra (1 Chronicles 6:7, 11, 52; Ezra 7:3).
2. Served in the temple of the Lord during the reign of David (1 Chronicles 23:19; 24:23)
3. A chief priest that served during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 19:11).
4. A Levite who served under King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:15).
5. A descendant of Binnui who was guilty of marrying a foreign woman (Ezra 10:42).
6. Signed an agreement (Nehemiah 10:1, 3).
7. Returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon and signed Ezra’s covenant (Nehemiah 12:2).
8. Son of Hezekiah and great-grandfather of Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1).
Amasa. Am-uh-suh.
1. Nephew of David, son of his sister Abigail (2 Samuel 17:25). He was appointed commander of David’s army to replace Joab, but Joab murdered him to retain the position (2 Samuel 19:13–20:12).
2. An Ephraimite leader in the time of Pekah, king of Israel; son of Hadlai (2 Chronicles 28:12).
Amaziah. Am-uh-zye-uh.
1. Succeeded his father Joash as the eighth king of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:12). See Kings of Israel and Judah Chart.
2. A priest under Jeroboam I; complained about the prophet Amos to Jeroboam. Amos prophesied the death of Amaziah and his family (Amos 7:10–17).
3. A Simeonite; father of Joash who killed the Amalekites that fled to Mt. Seir (1 Chronicles 4:34, 43).
4. One of the Merarites that King David assigned to the house of the Lord (1 Chronicles 6:45, 48).
amethyst. am-uh-thust.
A purple quartz used to make jewelry; one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:19; 39:12) and in the foundation of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20).
Amittai. Uh-mit-eye.
The prophet Jonah’s father (2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1).
Ammi (Hebrew). Am-me.
A symbolic name given to Israel meaning “you are my people” (Hosea 2:1, KJV). Promises God’s restoration of
