Boy Old Testament Known
Achbor
a rat; bruising
עַכְבּוֹר akh.bor
Achbor (Hebrew: עַכְבּוֹר, akh.bor) means “a rat; bruising”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a king. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Asaiah in 2 Kings 22.
Which Achbor?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Achbor
father of Elnathan
-
Achbor
son of Baal-hanan
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 8 across 5 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 36:38 |
| Last appears | Jeremiah 36:12 |
| Cross-references | 94 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Asaiah co-occurrence Appears with Asaiah in 2 Kings 22.
- Micaiah co-occurrence Appears with Micaiah in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Baal-hanan co-occurrence Appears with Baal-hanan in Genesis 36.
- Hananiah co-occurrence Appears with Hananiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Shemaiah co-occurrence Appears with Shemaiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Elnathan co-occurrence Appears with Elnathan in Jeremiah 26.
- Zedekiah co-occurrence Appears with Zedekiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Shaphan co-occurrence Appears with Shaphan in 2 Kings 22.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.12;
son of: Micaiah (H4320);
father of: Elnathan (H0494K); also called Abdon at 2Ch.34.20;
Also named: av.don (עַבְדּוֹן "Abdon" H5658K)
§ Achbor = "mouse"
1) father of king Baal-hanan of Edom
2) son of Michaiah and contemporary of king Josiah of Judah
Achbor, also known as Abdon, was an official during the reign of King Josiah of Judah and was involved in the discovery of the Book of the Law and the subsequent religious reforms.
The biblical story
Achbor, also referred to as Abdon, was an official who served during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (640-609 BC). He was the son of Micaiah and the father of Elnathan (2Ki.22.12; Jer.36.12).
During the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, when the Book of the Law was discovered in the temple, Achbor was one of the officials sent by the king to inquire of the Lord concerning the words of the book (2Ki.22.12-14; 2Ch.34.20). Along with other officials, Achbor went to the prophetess Huldah, who delivered a message from God confirming the authenticity of the book and the impending judgment on Judah for their disobedience (2Ki.22.15-20; 2Ch.34.22-28).
Achbor's son Elnathan is mentioned as one of the officials who urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing the prophecies of Jeremiah (Jer.36.12,25). Elnathan was also involved in bringing the prophet Uriah back from Egypt to face Jehoiakim's judgment (Jer.26.22).
Achbor's involvement in the discovery of the Book of the Law and his consultation with the prophetess Huldah highlight his role in the religious reforms initiated by King Josiah, which sought to restore proper worship and obedience to God's commandments in Judah.
Key verses
Achbor appears in 5 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
2 Kings 22:12 -
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
2 Kings 22:14 -
And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
2 Chronicles 34:20 -
And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Jeremiah 26:22 -
Then he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Jeremiah 36:12
Show all 5 references
2 Kings (2)
- 2 Kings 22:12
- 2 Kings 22:14
2 Chronicles (1)
- 2 Chronicles 34:20
Jeremiah (2)
- Jeremiah 26:22
- Jeremiah 36:12