Who was Abida in the bible?
Abida is named as one of Midian’s sons among “the children of Keturah,” appearing in Genesis 25:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:33.
Scripture Mentions
Abida is listed in a genealogy: “The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah” (1 Chronicles 1:33). The same list appears in Genesis 25:4.
Learn More →Name Meaning
Strong’s lexicon derives Abida’s name from Hebrew elements meaning “father” and “to know,” summarized as “father of knowledge.” The lexicon gloss identifies him as “a son of Abraham by Keturah.”
Learn More →Abida (Hebrew אֲבִידָע) is named in Scripture as one of Midian’s sons within the family lines that come from Keturah, who bore children to Abraham. The name is derived from Hebrew elements meaning “father” and “to know,” expressed in a sense like “father of knowledge.”
Abida in Scripture
Abida appears in two genealogical lists that identify him among the sons of Midian. In Genesis, the line is presented within the account of Keturah’s children and descendants. The chapter first names Keturah’s sons by Abraham, then narrows to Midian’s sons, including Abida:
Genesis 25:2: “She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.”
After naming Midian as one of Keturah’s sons, Genesis specifies Midian’s sons:
Genesis 25:4: “The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.”
Within the same immediate context, Genesis continues with statements about Abraham’s provision and the positioning of the different branches of his household. Abraham’s main inheritance is stated to have gone to Isaac, while gifts went to the sons of his concubines, and those sons were sent away from Isaac “eastward”:
Genesis 25:5: “Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,”
Genesis 25:6: “but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.”
In this narrative setting, Abida is not described individually beyond being listed as one of Midian’s sons; his placement in the list situates him within “the children of Keturah,” in a branch distinct from Isaac’s inheritance as Genesis presents it.
Abida is also listed in 1 Chronicles in a genealogical summary that moves through the family lines of Abraham. The surrounding context places Abida among the descendants of Keturah, with Ishmael’s sons listed immediately beforehand and Isaac’s line immediately afterward. First Chronicles identifies Keturah explicitly and names her sons, including Midian:
1 Chronicles 1:32: “The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.”
Then 1 Chronicles lists Midian’s sons, again including Abida:
1 Chronicles 1:33: “The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.”
The genealogy then turns to Isaac and the lines that follow him:
1 Chronicles 1:34: “Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.”
Read in order, the Chronicles presentation places Abida within a structured list of Abraham’s descendants: Ishmael’s sons (just prior), the sons of Keturah (including Midian and Midian’s sons), and then Isaac’s descendants (immediately after). Abida’s appearance functions as part of this larger family accounting.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as אֲבִידָע, transliterated ’Abiyda’ and pronounced “ab-ee-daw’.” Its derivation is explained from Hebrew components: ’ab (אָב), meaning “father,” and yada’ (יָדַע), meaning “to know.” Put together, the sense is expressed as “father of knowledge,” that is, “knowing.”
Observation
Across both Genesis 25 and 1 Chronicles 1, Abida is consistently identified by the same placement and description: “The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah,” and “All these were the children of Keturah” (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Abida in the Bible?
Abida was a son of Abraham by Keturah. He is listed among the sons of Midian in Genesis 25:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:33.
What does the name Abida mean?
Abida means “father of knowledge” (that is, knowing).
How many times does Abida appear in the Bible?
Abida appears 2 times.
Where is Abida mentioned in Scripture?
Abida is mentioned in Genesis 25:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:33.
Explore Further
If you found this page about Abida interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
