Boy Old Testament Known
Achish
thus it is; how is this
אָכִישׁ a.khish
Achish (Hebrew: אָכִישׁ, a.khish) means “thus it is; how is this”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 22 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Abigail in 1 Samuel 27.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Achish
son of Maoch
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 22 across 3 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 | 1 Samuel 21:10 |
| Last appears | Psalms 34:1 |
| Cross-references | 239 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Maoch co-occurrence Appears with Maoch in 1 Kings 2.
- Shimei co-occurrence Appears with Shimei in 1 Kings 2.
- Ahinoam co-occurrence Appears with Ahinoam in 1 Samuel 27.
- Jerahmeel co-occurrence Appears with Jerahmeel in 1 Samuel 27.
- Abigail co-occurrence Appears with Abigail in 1 Samuel 27.
- Nabal co-occurrence Appears with Nabal in 1 Samuel 27.
- Saul co-occurrence Appears with Saul in 1 Samuel 21.
- Jether co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jether.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.21.10;
son of: Maoch (H4582); also called Abimelech (NIV: Abimelek) at Psa.34.1;
Also named: a.vi.me.lekh (אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ "Abimelech" H0040I)
§ Achish = "I will blacken (or terrify)" or "only a man"
Philistine king of Gath
Achish, also referred to as Abimelech, was the Philistine king of Gath who granted refuge to David when he fled from King Saul, but later dismissed him due to the suspicion of his servants.
The biblical story
Achish, also known as Abimelech, was the Philistine king of Gath during the time of King Saul and King David. When David fled from Saul, he sought refuge in Gath, pretending to be insane to avoid being perceived as a threat (1Sa.21.10-15). Achish's servants recognized David as the celebrated Israelite warrior, but David's act of insanity convinced Achish to dismiss him (1Sa.21.11-15).
Later, when David was again fleeing from Saul, he returned to Achish in Gath, this time with a group of 600 men (1Sa.27.1-4). Achish granted David and his men the town of Ziklag as a base (1Sa.27.5-6). David and his men raided the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, but deceived Achish into believing that they were raiding the Israelites and their allies (1Sa.27.8-12).
When the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel, Achish brought David and his men with him (1Sa.28.1-2). However, the Philistine commanders objected to David's presence, fearing that he might turn against them in battle (1Sa.29.1-5). Achish, trusting in David's loyalty, defended him, but ultimately sent him back to Ziklag (1Sa.29.6-11).
After David became king, some of his servants fled to Achish in Gath (1Ki.2.39-40), indicating that David maintained a relationship with Achish even after becoming king.
Psalm 34 is attributed to David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech (Achish), who drove him away (Psalm 1Ki.34.1). The psalm expresses David's trust in God and his deliverance from fear and trouble.
Key verses
Achish appears in 21 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:10 -
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
1 Samuel 21:11 -
And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:12 -
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
1 Samuel 21:14 -
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2
Show all 21 references
1 Samuel (18)
- 1 Samuel 21:10
- 1 Samuel 21:11
- 1 Samuel 21:12
- 1 Samuel 21:14
- 1 Samuel 27:2
- 1 Samuel 27:3
- 1 Samuel 27:5
- 1 Samuel 27:6
- 1 Samuel 27:9
- 1 Samuel 27:10
- 1 Samuel 27:12
- 1 Samuel 28:1
- 1 Samuel 28:2
- 1 Samuel 29:2
- 1 Samuel 29:3
- 1 Samuel 29:6
- 1 Samuel 29:8
- 1 Samuel 29:9
1 Kings (2)
- 1 Kings 2:39
- 1 Kings 2:40
Psalms (1)
- Psalms 34:1