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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Abishai


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Abishai Abishai

Abishai is the son of Zeruiah, the sister of David. Abishai's brothers are Joab and Asahel. Before Abishai becomes important in David's army (2 Sam 10:10), he joins him on his little stunt to the sleeping Saul (1 Sam 26:6). Much later he kills a Goliath-like giant named Ishbi-benob and saves David's life (2 Sam 21:16-17).

It's not directly clear how the name Abishai is constructed. One possibility is as a combination of the word ab (ab 4a), meaning father, and the name Jesse, which is the name of Abisha's grandfather Jesse. In English these names don't sound alike, but apparently they did in the old times. The Septuagint lists these names as Jesse and Abishai.
The meaning of the name Jesse is also disputed, but may mean either My Husband or Yah Exists. The name Abishai would thus mean both My Father Is My Husband or My Father Yah Exists.

Another possibility comes when we recognize that in names the word ab is often followed by a yod in connection with names of places to express the lord of a country, city, village. The second part of the name Abishai would then be shay (shay 2375), gift, gift offered as homage (Isa 18:7, Ps 76:12).

The name Abishai means My Father Is Jesse (BDB) or Father Of A Gift (NOBSE).



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