Encyclopedia entry · Person
Abiel
Curator's research file
Subject · person
Abiel
Identity
- Name meaning
- father of strength · God is father (Heb. av-el)
Family
- Parent(s)
- —
- Spouse
- —
- Children
- —
- Tribe / people
- —
Era & origin
- Era
- Two figures: 11th century BC — both during the early monarchy
- Region
- —
- Contemporary of
- —
Role
- Role
- Two distinct OT figures: grandfather of King Saul · one of David's Thirty mighty men
- Notable for
- *Abiel* is a Hebrew name meaning *father of strength* — or, more literally, *God is father* (av-el).
Scripture
- First mention
- 1 Samuel 9
- Most cited
- 1 Samuel 14
- Key passages
Network
- Referenced by
- 4 entries
- Voices
- —
Read the full account →↑
Abiel is a Hebrew name meaning father of strength — or, more literally, God is father (av-el). Two distinct men bear it in scripture.
**1. Grandfather of Saul (1 Samuel 9:1, 14:51).** Abiel son of Zeror was the father of Kish (Saul's father) and of Ner (Abner's father), making King Saul and his cousin Abner — the future commander of his army — grandsons of the same man. His grandfather position in Saul's house comes into view only through the genealogical notes that frame Saul's introduction to scripture. The parallel list in 1 Chronicles 8:33 / 9:39 names Ner as Kish's father rather than his brother — a textual variant the church has long noted without resolving definitively.
**2. One of David's Thirty (1 Chronicles 11:32).* This Abiel was the Arbathite* — likely from Beth-arabah in the wilderness of Judah — a member of the elite circle of warriors who served as David's standing strength. The parallel list in 2 Samuel 23:31 names him *Abi-albon the Arbathite;* the two are generally taken to be the same figure under variant readings.
Key passages
Source · AI-drafted from biblical text and standard reference works (Smith's, Easton's, ISBE) — verify and refine against authoritative sources before publication.