Lexical Summary Hillel: Hillel Original Word: הִלֵּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hillel From halal; praising (namely God); Hillel, an Israelite -- Hillel. see HEBREW halal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom halal Definition "he has praised," father of a judge of Isr. NASB Translation Hillel (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs הִלֵּל proper name, masculine (he hath praised; compare Late Hebrew proper name הִלֵּל, Hillel) father of a judge of Israel Judges 12:13,15, called הַמִּרְעָתוֺנִי see מִּרְעָתוֺן. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Hillel is a personal name that conveys the thought of praise and shining forth. The choice of such a name in ancient Israel testified to parental desire that a life would radiate honor to the covenant-keeping God. Occurrences in Scripture The name appears twice, both in the record of the Judges: No deeds of Hillel himself are recounted, yet the biblical text deliberately preserves his name in order to situate Abdon within an identifiable lineage. Historical Context Hillel lived during the turbulent era of the Judges—after the deliverance wrought by Jephthah and before the time of Samson. Those decades were marked by repeated cycles of apostasy, oppression, supplication, and deliverance. Abdon’s eight-year judgeship (Judges 12:13-14) likely fell in the twelfth or early eleventh century BC. By inserting Hillel into the narrative, Scripture emphasizes that even in a fragmented society God continued to raise leaders from faithful families. Tribal and Geographical Setting Hillel is called “the Pirathonite” through his son. Pirathon lay within Ephraimite territory (compare 1 Chronicles 7:20-24), yet Judges 12:15 also identifies the region as “the hill country of the Amalekites,” reflecting an earlier Amalekite occupation that Ephraim had displaced but whose memory lingered in place-names. The Ephraimite setting is significant: that tribe often supplied national leadership (Joshua, Deborah’s barracks at Mount Ephraim, later Jeroboam the First). Thus Hillel represents the ongoing contribution of Ephraim to Israel’s governance. Family and Legacy Scripture attributes to Abdon forty sons and thirty grandsons riding seventy donkeys (Judges 12:14), a sign of wealth, status, and administrative reach. Such prosperity did not arise overnight; it presupposes the economic diligence and covenantal blessing already present in Hillel’s household. The father’s godly industry and stewardship provided the platform from which his son could serve the nation. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Generational faithfulness: Though the narrative is sparse, Hillel’s placement shows that God values the unseen years of parenting, mentoring, and daily obedience that shape future leaders. Related Names and Broader Biblical Motif Other Hebrew names formed from the same verbal root include Mahalalel (Genesis 5:12) and Hallaluyah, the recurring exhortation “Praise the LORD.” Together they underscore Israel’s calling to be a praising people. Hillel, though singular in the text, participates in this larger doxological thread. Lessons for Today • Cultivate a household of praise; its influence may reach farther than you will personally see. Summary Hillel, father of Judge Abdon, stands as a testament to the enduring impact of a life and family grounded in praise, diligence, and covenant loyalty. Though his biography is brief, the fruit borne through his lineage during a critical juncture in Israel’s history encourages believers to pursue faithful, worship-filled living that equips future servants of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations הִלֵּ֖ל הלל hil·lêl hilLel hillêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 12:13 HEB: עַבְדּ֥וֹן בֶּן־ הִלֵּ֖ל הַפִּרְעָתוֹנִֽי׃ NAS: the son of Hillel the Pirathonite KJV: the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, INT: now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite Judges 12:15 2 Occurrences |
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