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Etymology •
& Meaning •
Hebrew •
Greek •
Bible •
Names •
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Meaning and etymology of the Hebrew name Abinadab
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Abinadab 
The name Abinadab is assigned three times in the Bible, all in the same era.
The first Abinadab we meet in the Bible is the man from Kiriath-jearim who is assigned to keep the Ark of the Covenant in his house (1 Samuel 7:1), after it comes back from the Philistines, and after its brief stay in Beth-shemesh where 50,070 die when some take a look inside it (1 Samuel 6:19). Abinadab's son Eleazar is consecrated to guard the Ark. The Ark of the Covenant would stay in Kiriath-jearim for twenty years, which was such a long time that 'the house of Israel lamented after the Lord' (v2).
Much later, king David decides to move the Ark of the Covenant to Israel's capital Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6) and Abinadab's two other sons Uzzah and Ahio are in charge of the cart. When Uzzah touches the Ark to keep it from falling, God strikes him dead (v7). Disheveled and angry, king David leaves the Ark in the house of Obed-edom.
Other Abinadabs are the second son of Jesse, who is also the father of king David (1 Chronicles 2:13). And a son of king Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33).
The name Abinadab consists of two elements. The first element is the common Hebrew word  (ab), meaning basically father (see the name Abba), but with applications beyond the contemporary use of father. Many times `ab is used as counselor or judge (Genesis 45:8; 2 Kings 2:12). Abi (with yod) appears frequently in connection with names of places to express the lord of a country, city or village.
The second element comes from the Hebrew verb  (nadab), make willing, incite; 'an uncompelled and free movement of the will unto divine service or sacrifice,' says HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament . Some derivatives are:  (nedaba), freewill offering;  (nadib), noble;  (nediba), noble deed.
The name Abinadab means The Father Is Generous (NOBS Study Bible Name List) or My Father Is Noble (BDB Theological Dictionary). Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names offers Father Of Nobility or Father Of Liberality
Related names are Ahinadab and Ben-abinadab.
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