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H293 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אֲחִינֹעַם
Achinoam
Proper noun, feminine
My brother is delight / Brother of grace

Definition

The Hebrew name Achinoam combines ach (brother) and noam (pleasantness, delight, grace). It means 'my brother is delight' or 'brother of pleasantness.' Two women in the Old Testament bore this name: Saul's wife and David's wife from Jezreel.

Usage & Theological Significance

Two women named Achinoam (Ahinoam) appear in the historical books. The first was the wife of King Saul and mother of Jonathan, Ishui, and Malchishua (1 Samuel 14:50). The second was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's wives (1 Samuel 25:43). She was the mother of David's firstborn son Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2). During David's fugitive years, both Ahinoam and Abigail were captured by the Amalekites at Ziklag — a crisis that drove David to 'strengthen himself in the LORD his God' (1 Samuel 30:6). Their rescue became a story of faith-driven action in desperate circumstances.

Key Bible Verses

1 Samuel 14:50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz.
1 Samuel 25:43 David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them were his wives.
2 Samuel 3:2 And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
1 Samuel 30:18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.

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