284. Achichud

Lexical Summary

Achichud: Achihud

Original Word: אֲחִיחֻד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achiychud
Pronunciation: a-khee-khood'
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ee-khood')
KJV: Ahihud
NASB: Ahihud
Word Origin: [from H251 (אָח - brother) and H2330 (חוּד - propound)]

1. brother of a riddle (i.e. mysterious)
2. Achichud, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ahihud

From 'ach and chuwd; brother of a riddle (i.e. Mysterious); Achichud, an Israelite -- Ahihud.

see HEBREW 'ach

see HEBREW chuwd

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from ach and chud
Definition
"brother of a riddle," a Benjamite
NASB Translation
Ahihud (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֲחִיחֻד proper name, masculine (probably = אחיהוד q. v.) son of Ehud, a Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:7.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Setting

The name Ahihud appears once in Holy Scripture, in the genealogical record of Benjamin found in 1 Chronicles 8:7. The text reads, “Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera—he deported them, and he fathered Uzza and Ahihud” (Berean Standard Bible). Located deep within the Chronicler’s listing of Benjamite heads of families, the reference comes immediately before the line that leads to King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33-40), situating Ahihud among the clan clusters around Gibeon and its satellite towns.

Genealogical Role within Benjamin

1. Placement: Ahihud is the grandson of Gera, a descendant of Bela, Benjamin’s firstborn (1 Chronicles 8:3-6).
2. Sibling Relationship: His brother is Uzza, indicating that Gera continued his lineage in the land after the forced relocation implied by the phrase “he deported them.”
3. Tribal Importance: Benjamin, though the smallest tribe (1 Samuel 9:21), held strategic territory north of Jerusalem. Every household listed in 1 Chronicles 8 contributes to the Chronicler’s aim of proving the tribe’s resilience after exile. Ahihud’s inclusion authenticates the continuity of Benjamin’s ancestral lines.

Historical Background

The Chronicler compiled these genealogies for a post-exilic community struggling to reestablish covenant identity. By recording even seemingly obscure figures such as Ahihud, the inspired writer demonstrated that no family branch was forgotten by God, thereby encouraging returned exiles to value their heritage and to reclaim their allotted territories.

Theological Themes

1. Providence in Preservation: Although Scripture records nothing of Ahihud’s personal deeds, his preserved name testifies to the Lord’s meticulous care for every member of His people (Isaiah 49:16; Luke 12:7).
2. Covenant Continuity: The appearance of lesser-known Benjamites between earlier patriarchs and the royal line of Saul underlines the unbroken thread of God’s promises (Genesis 49:27; 2 Samuel 7:12-16).
3. Restoration after Discipline: The brief notice that Gera “deported” his sons suggests internal displacement or exile. Yet out of that upheaval God still raised succeeding generations, illustrating grace that triumphs over judgment (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Ministry Significance

• Encouragement for the Overlooked: Leaders and congregants who feel hidden can remember Ahihud; anonymity in human records does not equate to insignificance in divine purposes (1 Corinthians 12:22).
• Importance of Record-Keeping: Church rolls, family Bibles, and local histories mirror the Chronicler’s work, reminding believers that stewardship of names honors God’s faithfulness across generations.
• Assurance of Inheritance: Just as Ahihud’s entry secured his family’s claim within Benjamin, Christians “are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), though their inheritance is often unseen in the present age.

Practical Application for Believers Today

1. Cultivate Memory: Deliberately recount the spiritual heritage of families and congregations, reinforcing identity in Christ.
2. Value Each Member: Recognize and celebrate the contributions of every believer, whether public or private, for the health of the body (Ephesians 4:16).
3. Persevere through Displacement: When life uproots the faithful, God still writes their names into His unfolding story, assuring them of purposeful continuity.

Summary

Ahihud’s lone appearance anchors a vital link in Benjamin’s lineage, underscoring divine providence in preserving even the most obscure families. His presence in Scripture, though brief, offers enduring lessons on covenant faithfulness, the dignity of forgotten names, and the certainty that God weaves every life into the tapestry of redemptive history.

Forms and Transliterations

אֲחִיחֻֽד׃ אחיחד׃ ’ă·ḥî·ḥuḏ ’ăḥîḥuḏ achiChud

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 8:7
HEB: עֻזָּ֖א וְאֶת־ אֲחִיחֻֽד׃
NAS: of Uzza and Ahihud.
KJV: them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
INT: became of Uzza and Ahihud

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 284
1 Occurrence

’ă·ḥî·ḥuḏ — 1 Occ.