The Hebrew word אֲבִידָע (Abida or Abidah), identified as Strong's H28, is a proper name that appears in the biblical context with a significant meaning.
From H1 and H3045; father of knowledge (i.e., to know); Abida, a son of Abraham and Keturah: Abida.
Etymological meaning: The name אֲבִידָע (Abida) is a compound name of two elements:
אֲבִי (abi) = "my father" or "father of"
דָע (da) = derived from the root ידע (yada) meaning "to know" or "knowledge."
Therefore, the full name means "my father knows" or "father of knowledge."
Biblical Context: Abida appears in the Bible in two main passages:
Genesis 25:4 - He is mentioned as one of the sons of Midian, who in turn was the son of Abraham with his concubine Keturah: "The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were sons of Keturah."
1 Chronicles 1:33 - The same genealogy is repeated: "The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were sons of Keturah."
Contextual Significance:
Abida is part of the genealogy of Abraham's descendants outside the main line of promise (which ran through Isaac and Jacob).
The Midianites, descendants of Midian (including the line of Abida), became an important tribe in the region, mentioned multiple times throughout biblical history.
The Midianites lived primarily in the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, east of the Gulf of Aqaba.
What is interesting about this name is its implicit theological meaning: "my father knows" could be interpreted as an affirmation of divine omniscience or paternal knowledge, a recurring theme in biblical narrative where God is frequently portrayed as an all-knowing father.
Although Abida herself does not play an active narrative role in the biblical accounts beyond these genealogical mentions, her name contributes to the rich tapestry of biblical Hebrew onomastics with its implicit theological meanings.
