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Abishua
father of salvation
אֲבִישׁוּעַ a.vi.shu.a
Abishua (Hebrew: אֲבִישׁוּעַ, a.vi.shu.a) means “father of salvation”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Divided Kingdom period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears in the same passages as Ahitub.
Which Abishua?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Abishua
son of Phinehas
-
Abishua
descendant of Benjamin
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 5 across 2 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 | 1 Chronicles 6:4 |
| Last appears | Ezra 7:5 |
| Cross-references | 62 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Phinehas co-occurrence Appears with Phinehas in 1 Chronicles 6.
- Bukki co-occurrence Appears with Bukki in 1 Chronicles 6.
- Uzzi co-occurrence Appears with Uzzi in 1 Chronicles 6.
- Naaman co-occurrence Appears with Naaman in 1 Chronicles 8.
- Eleazar co-occurrence Appears with Eleazar in 1 Chronicles 6.
- Ahoah co-occurrence Appears with Ahoah in 1 Chronicles 8.
- Azariah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Azariah.
- Amariah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Amariah.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.4;
son of: Phinehas (H6372);
father of: Bukki (H1231H)
§ Abishua = "my father is rescue (safety), or is opulence"
son of Phinehas, grandson of Aaron
Abishua was the son of Phinehas and grandson of Eleazar, who served as high priests in the line of Aaron.
The biblical story
Abishua was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (1Ch.6.4-5,50). He was part of the lineage of high priests who served in the tabernacle and, later, in the temple.
As a descendant of Aaron, Abishua would have been part of the Levitical priesthood, although no specific details are given about his role or responsibilities. His mention in the genealogies serves to trace the line of high priests from Aaron to the time of the divided monarchy.
Abishua is also mentioned in the genealogy of Ezra, the scribe and priest who led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem during the Persian period (Ezr.7.5). This genealogy demonstrates Ezra's priestly lineage and his connection to the line of high priests stretching back to Aaron, including Abishua.
Key verses
Abishua appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
1 Chronicles 6:4 -
And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
1 Chronicles 6:5 -
And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
1 Chronicles 6:50 -
The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
Ezra 7:5
Show all 4 references
1 Chronicles (3)
- 1 Chronicles 6:4
- 1 Chronicles 6:5
- 1 Chronicles 6:50
Ezra (1)
- Ezra 7:5