Boy Old Testament Known
Ahikam
a brother who raises up or avenges
אֲחִיקָם a.chi.qam
Ahikam (Hebrew: אֲחִיקָם, a.chi.qam) means “a brother who raises up or avenges”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 20 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Achbor in 2 Kings 22.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Ahikam
son of Shaphan
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 20 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- 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 | 2 Kings 22:12 |
| Last appears | Jeremiah 43:6 |
| Cross-references | 338 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Gedaliah co-occurrence Appears with Gedaliah in Jeremiah 40.
- Shaphan co-occurrence Appears with Shaphan in Jeremiah 40.
- Asaiah co-occurrence Appears with Asaiah in 2 Kings 22.
- Nethaniah co-occurrence Appears with Nethaniah in Jeremiah 41.
- Ishmael co-occurrence Appears with Ishmael in Jeremiah 41.
- Micaiah co-occurrence Appears with Micaiah in 2 Chronicles 34.
- Achbor co-occurrence Appears with Achbor in 2 Kings 22.
- Baalis co-occurrence Appears with Baalis in Jeremiah 40.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.12;
son of: Shaphan (H8227B);
brother of: Elasah (H0501J) and Gemariah (H1587H);
father of: Gedaliah (H1436B)
§ Ahikam = "my brother has risen (arisen)"
1) son of Shaphan, an officer in Josiah's reign
2) protector of Jeremiah
3) father of Gedaliah
Ahikam, son of Shaphan, was an official during the reigns of Josiah and Jehoiakim, and he protected Jeremiah from death.
The biblical story
Ahikam was the son of Shaphan the scribe and an important official during the reigns of King Josiah and King Jehoiakim of Judah. He first appears in the biblical narrative when Josiah sends him, along with other officials, to consult the prophetess Huldah regarding the book of the Law discovered in the temple. (2Ki.22.12-14; 2Ch.34.20)
Later, during the reign of Jehoiakim, Ahikam uses his influence to protect the prophet Jeremiah from being put to death when Jeremiah's prophecies anger the officials and the people. (Jer.26.24).
After the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, the Babylonian captain of the guard appoints Gedaliah, Ahikam's son, as governor over the cities of Judah. (2Ki.25.22) Jeremiah is released from captivity and entrusted to Gedaliah's care. (Jer.39.14; 40.5-6)
Gedaliah establishes his headquarters at Mizpah and encourages the remaining people in Judah to serve the Babylonians. (Jer.40.7-12) However, Ishmael, a member of the royal family, murders Gedaliah and those with him, causing the people to flee to Egypt out of fear of Babylonian reprisal. (Jer.41.1-18) Ahikam's role in protecting Jeremiah and his son's appointment as governor highlight the family's importance during this turbulent period in Judah's history.
Key verses
Ahikam appears in 20 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 as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
2 Kings 25:22 -
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 -
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Jeremiah 26:24
Show all 20 references
2 Kings (3)
- 2 Kings 22:12
- 2 Kings 22:14
- 2 Kings 25:22
2 Chronicles (1)
- 2 Chronicles 34:20
Jeremiah (16)
- Jeremiah 26:24
- Jeremiah 39:14
- Jeremiah 40:5
- Jeremiah 40:6
- Jeremiah 40:7
- Jeremiah 40:9
- Jeremiah 40:11
- Jeremiah 40:14
- Jeremiah 40:16
- Jeremiah 41:1
- Jeremiah 41:2
- Jeremiah 41:6
- Jeremiah 41:10
- Jeremiah 41:16
- Jeremiah 41:18
- Jeremiah 43:6