Girl Old Testament Rare
Abital
the father of the dew; or of the shadow
אֲבִיטָ֑ל a.vi.tal
Abital (Hebrew: אֲבִיטָ֑ל, a.vi.tal) means “the father of the dew; or of the shadow”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Adonijah in 2 Samuel 3.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Abital
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
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 | 2 Samuel 3:4 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 3:3 |
| Cross-references | 6 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Shephatiah co-occurrence Appears with Shephatiah in 2 Samuel 3.
- Ithream co-occurrence Appears with Ithream in 1 Chronicles 3.
- Eglah co-occurrence Appears with Eglah in 1 Chronicles 3.
- Haggith co-occurrence Appears with Haggith in 2 Samuel 3.
- Adonijah co-occurrence Appears with Adonijah in 2 Samuel 3.
- Laish co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Laish.
- Maacah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Maacah.
- Chileab co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Chileab.
Origin & meaning
A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.3.4; married to David (H1732);
mother of: Shephatiah (H8203)
§ Abital = "my father is (the) dew"
a wife of David
Abital was one of King David's wives and the mother of his son Shephatiah.
The biblical story
Abital was one of the wives of King David, the second king of Israel. She is mentioned in the lists of David's wives and children in both 2Sa.3.4 and 1Ch.3.3. Abital gave birth to one of David's sons, named Shephatiah.
The biblical text does not provide any further information about Abital's background, her relationship with David, or her role in the royal household. She is one of several wives mentioned in the genealogies, highlighting David's practice of polygamy, which was common among kings in the ancient Near East.
Abital's son Shephatiah is listed among David's sons born in Hebron, where David reigned over Judah for seven years before becoming king over all Israel (2Sa.2.11; 5.5).
Key verses
Abital appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
2 Samuel 3:4 -
The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
1 Chronicles 3:3
Show all 2 references
2 Samuel (1)
- 2 Samuel 3:4
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 3:3