BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Ab — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
The Hebrew noun אָב (ʾāḇ) means 'father,' covering both the literal parent and figurative uses such as ancestor.
Meaning of the word
The Strong's entry for H1 defines אָב (ʾāḇ) as 'father,' and the definition explicitly distinguishes a literal and immediate sense from a figurative and remote sense. In its literal use, the word refers to a man's male parent — the one who has begotten or is rearing him. In its figurative or remote sense, it extends to an ancestor further back in the line, a clan head, or a metaphorical 'father' role (examples below also include ʾāḇōṯ, the plural form).
Because the lexicon summary covers both applications in a single line, אָב should be read first as a kinship term and second as a relational term of origin, authority, or guidance, depending on context.
Usage in Scripture
In Genesis 2:24 and 12:1, אָב appears in the everyday parental sense: a man is to leave his father and mother and join to his wife, and Abram is called to leave his father's house. The word thus grounds the most basic family unit and the call narrative of the patriarchs.
Exodus 20:12 places אָב inside the Decalogue, tying the fifth commandment to honoring one's father and mother. The same chapter, Exodus 20:5, uses the plural ʾāבֹת (ʾāḇōṯ, 'fathers') to speak of the iniquities of previous generations, showing the figure-of-speech use. In Psalms 103:13, the word becomes the metaphor for divine pity: as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him.
The word in detail
- H0001 Strong's H1, the lemma אָב (ʾāḇ), is the most common Hebrew noun for 'father.' The dictionary note combines a literal reading ('immediate' parent) and a figurative reading ('remote' application such as ancestor or metaphorical father); readers should let the verse decide which is meant.
Example verses
- Genesis 2:24 אָב stands for the literal male parent; the verse uses the term to define marriage as leaving father and mother.
- Exodus 20:12 Inserts אָב into the fifth commandment; honoring father and mother is tied to longevity in the land.
- Exodus 20:5 Here the plural ʾāḇōṯ extends אָב to mean 'fathers' in the sense of prior generations whose iniquity is visited on later ones.
- Psalms 103:13 A clear figurative use: human fatherhood is the analogy for the LORD's compassion toward the faithful.
Common questions
Is אָב always literal?
No. Strong's definition explicitly allows a 'figurative and remote application,' such as ancestor or metaphorical father. Verses like Exodus 20:5 (ʾāḇōṯ, 'fathers/ancestors') and Psalms 103:13 show the figurative sense.
Why is Strong's number H1 for such a common word?
The Hebrew–English numbering is based on the order in the reference's word list; אָב happens to be the first entry, so it receives the number H1 even though it is by frequency one of the most common terms in the Old Testament.
Does אָב always appear with prefixes like בְּאָבִי?
In the example verses it appears with first-person singular suffixes or in the plural construct (e.g., ʾāḇi 'my father,' ʾāḇōṯ 'fathers'), which is normal for a kinship noun; the base lemma אָב remains 'father' regardless of the inflection.