Who was Abiezer in the bible?

Abiezer is the name of two Israelites in the Bible. In the lexicon tradition reflected in Strong’s H44, the name is understood to mean “father of help” (that is, “helpful”). In Scripture, Abiezer appears both as a person named in a genealogy and as an Israelite identified as “the Anathothite,” as well as in references to “the children of Abiezer” and to “the vintage of Abiezer.”

Abiezer in Scripture

Abiezer is first mentioned in a genealogical context within a larger listing of tribal families and descendants.

“His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.” (1 Chronicles 7:18, WEB)

This statement is embedded in a chapter that records genealogies for multiple tribes. 1 Chronicles 7 begins with the descendants of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:1–5), continues with Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:6–12), and then turns to Naphtali (1 Chronicles 7:13). The chapter then provides a sequence of names connected with Manasseh and related lines (1 Chronicles 7:14–19), including the brief note that “Hammolecheth” bore “Abiezer” (1 Chronicles 7:18). After listing further names, the chapter proceeds to the descendants of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:20–27), including a narrative note about loss and mourning (1 Chronicles 7:21–23), and then mentions places described as “their possessions and settlements” (1 Chronicles 7:28–29). It concludes with a genealogy of Asher, closing with a summary of “choice and mighty men of valor” counted “for service in war” (1 Chronicles 7:30–40).

Abiezer also appears in a land-allocation context where “the children of Abiezer” are listed among families connected with Manasseh.

“So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida.” (Joshua 17:2, WEB)

In Judges, “Abiezer” appears as a gathered group in connection with Gideon’s call to action, and later as a comparative term in a metaphor about gleaning and vintage.

“But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.” (Judges 6:34, WEB)

“He said to them, ‘What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?’” (Judges 8:2, WEB)

In Samuel and Chronicles, Abiezer is named among warriors, and in Chronicles he is also counted among military captains by month.

“Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,” (2 Samuel 23:27, WEB)

“Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,” (1 Chronicles 11:28, WEB)

“The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.” (1 Chronicles 27:12, WEB)

These notices identify Abiezer as “the Anathothite,” place him within lists of notable fighting men, and describe him as a monthly “captain” with a division numbered at “twenty-four thousand” (1 Chronicles 27:12).

Multiple Bearers

The lexicon gloss associated with Strong’s H44 states that Abiezer is “the name of two Israelites.” The verses themselves present more than one use of the name that should be distinguished.

1) Abiezer in a genealogy. One Abiezer is named as a person born to Hammolecheth:

“His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.” (1 Chronicles 7:18, WEB)

2) Abiezer the Anathothite. Another Abiezer is repeatedly identified by origin or association as “the Anathothite.” He appears in a list in Samuel (2 Samuel 23:27), in a parallel-style list in Chronicles (1 Chronicles 11:28), and as a military leader in a rotational system:

“The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.” (1 Chronicles 27:12, WEB)

3) Abiezer as a family or group designation. Scripture also uses “Abiezer” to describe a body of people (“the children of Abiezer”) and as a collective gathered behind Gideon (“Abiezer was gathered together to follow him”), and as a figurative benchmark (“the vintage of Abiezer”) (Joshua 17:2; Judges 6:34; Judges 8:2). These usages do not by themselves define a single individual, but they show the name functioning as a family or group identifier within Israel’s tribal life and speech.

Name and Meaning

In Hebrew script the name is written אֲבִיעֶזֶר, transliterated ’Abiy’ezer and pronounced ab-ee-ay’-zer. In Strong’s derivation it is formed from a word meaning “father” and a second element rendered “Ezer,” yielding the sense “father of help” (that is, “helpful”).

Observation

The biblical references connect Abiezer both with genealogy and with mobilization and leadership: one Abiezer is simply named among descendants (1 Chronicles 7:18), while “Abiezer the Anathothite” is remembered among warriors and as “captain for the ninth month” with “twenty-four thousand” in his division (2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles 27:12).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Abiezer mean?

Abiezer means “father of help” or “helpful.”

How many times does Abiezer appear in the Bible?

Abiezer appears 7 times.

Who was Abiezer in the Bible?

Abiezer is the name of two Israelites. One is listed among descendants in 1 Chronicles 7:18, and another is called “Abiezer the Anathothite” in 2 Samuel 23:27 and 1 Chronicles 11:28.

What happened with Abiezer in Gideon’s story?

When Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon and he blew a trumpet, “Abiezer was gathered together to follow him” (Judges 6:34).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Abiezer 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).