Lexical Summary
Abiram: Abiram
Original Word:אֲבִירָם
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Abiyram
Pronunciation:ah-bee-RAHM
Phonetic Spelling:(ab-ee-rawm')
KJV: Abiram
NASB:Abiram
Word Origin:[fromH1 (אָב - father) andH7311 (רוּם - exalted)]
1. father of height (i.e. lofty)
2. Abiram, the name of two Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Abiram
From'ab andruwm; father of height (i.e. Lofty); Abiram, the name of two Israelites -- Abiram.
see HEBREW'ab
see HEBREWruwm
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ab and
rumDefinition"exalted father," an Isr. name
NASB TranslationAbiram (11).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
(the) Exalted One is (my) father (see Bae
Rel 156) compare Assyrian
Aburamu (?) KAT
2479 compare Dl
L2, p. 91, 1. 225).
Numbers 16:1,12,24,25,27 (twice in verse);Numbers 26:9;Deuteronomy 11:6;Psalm 106:17.
1 Kings 16:34. compare also following.
Topical Lexicon
Historical Figures Bearing the Name1. Abiram son of Eliab, a descendant of Reuben (Numbers 26:5-9).
2. Abiram the firstborn of Hiel of Bethel (1 Kings 16:34).
The two men share nothing more than a name, yet together they illustrate the certainty of God’s word—whether declared through Moses or through Joshua—and reveal sobering lessons about rebellion, authority, and judgment.
Abiram Son of Eliab
Origins and Family
Dathan and Abiram were sons of Eliab, the grandson of Reuben. Although the tribe of Reuben held the right of the firstborn in theory, Jacob’s death-bed prophecy (Genesis 49:3-4) foretold that Reuben would forfeit preeminence because of sin. The discontent of Dathan and Abiram fits within this larger backdrop of frustration over lost privilege.
The Rebellion with Korah
Numbers 16:1-3 introduces the conspiracy of Korah the Levite—joined by Dathan, Abiram, and On—against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Their charge was that Moses had arrogated priestly authority to himself: “‘You have gone too far! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you set yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?’” (Numbers 16:3).
Refusal to Hear Correction
When Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, “they said, ‘We will not come!’” (Numbers 16:12). Their defiance revealed settled contempt, not mere misunderstanding. They accused Moses of bringing them from “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Egypt!) only to die in the wilderness (Numbers 16:13-14). Their revisionist history echoes later murmuring at Kadesh (Numbers 14:3-4).
Divine Judgment
At the Lord’s command the congregation withdrew from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16:24-27). “The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households” (Numbers 16:32).Psalm 106:17 commemorates the event: “The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the company of Abiram.” The judgment was immediate, visible, and total—an enacted warning against insurrection.
Memorialized in Israel’s Memory
Numbers 26:9 treats the incident as a settled historical fact during the second census.Deuteronomy 11:6 appeals to it as a motive for covenant obedience before Israel entered Canaan. Centuries later the psalmist uses the account as a cautionary tale for a wayward nation (Psalm 106). Even the New Testament alludes to the episode inJude 11 (“the rebellion of Korah”), implicitly including Abiram in the category of false teachers who despise authority.
Theological Themes
• Legitimate authority is God-given; to resist it is ultimately to resist God (Romans 13:1-2).
• Rebellion often disguises itself in the language of equality and holiness.
• God vindicates humble, ordained leadership and judges self-exalting ambition.
• Intercession matters: Moses and Aaron “fell facedown” (Numbers 16:22), prefiguring Christ’s priestly mediation.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Church leaders must exercise authority as stewards, not proprietors.
• Congregations must weigh grievances carefully lest they echo the spirit of Abiram.
• The discipline of God can be sudden; habitual sin should never be treated lightly.
Abiram Son of Hiel
Historical Setting
During the reign of Ahab, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho, defying Joshua’s ancient curse (Joshua 6:26). “During those days, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation” (1 Kings 16:34). The death of Abiram at the outset of construction validated the prophetic word spoken more than five hundred years earlier.
Illustration of Prophetic Certainty
Joshua’s malediction specified the loss of the firstborn at the laying of the foundation and the youngest at the setting of the gates. Scripture records both deaths exactly as foretold. Abiram’s demise therefore serves as a historical seal on prophetic credibility: not one word of the Lord falls to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
Ethical and Pastoral Implications
• Unbelief in God’s warnings endangers innocent lives; parental rebellion often harms children.
• Ignoring divine prohibition for economic or civic prestige invites judgment.
• Fulfilled prophecy strengthens faith: the Lord who judged Hiel can be trusted to keep every promise of salvation.
Canonical Distribution
Numbers 16 (vv. 1, 12, 24, 25, 27 × 2)
Numbers 26:9 × 2
Deuteronomy 11:6
1 Kings 16:34
Psalm 106:17
The name appears eleven times. Nine occurrences center on the rebellion narrative; one affirms covenant remembrance; one relates to fulfilled prophecy in the monarchy. The clustering underscores two chief lessons: God opposes insurrection within the covenant community and vindicates His word across generations.
Doctrinal and Devotional Reflections
Rebellion and Redemption
Abiram’s fate contrasts sharply with the mercy extended to all who submit to divine authority. The ground swallowed him; yet Christ was laid in the ground and rose again so that rebels might become sons (Romans 5:10). The narrative invites sober reflection on the costly grace that reconciles sinners.
Prophetic Fulfillment and Assurance
Abiram the son of Hiel died under judgment, but his death simultaneously proves that God’s threats and promises alike are certain. Believers therefore rest in the absolute reliability of Scripture—from warnings of hell to assurances of eternal life.
Community Order
The Church is “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5), yet the New Testament still assigns distinct roles (Ephesians 4:11-12;Hebrews 13:17). Abiram’s account warns against democratic anarchy disguised as spirituality. True unity flourishes under Christ-ordained structures marked by humility and service.
Eschatological Implications
Just as the earth opened to consume Abiram, Revelation depicts a final upheaval for all who side with the dragon (Revelation 20:9-10). The historical judgment anticipates a cosmic one, urging all people to flee to Christ while mercy is offered.
Conclusion
Abiram stands in Scripture as a dual signpost. One bearer of the name perished for insurrection; the other perished because his father treated prophecy as fiction. Together they impress on every generation the urgency of submitting to God’s word—whether spoken through lawgiver, prophet, or Son.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲבִירָֽם׃ אבירם׃ בַּאֲבִירָ֨ם באבירם וְלַאֲבִירָ֖ם וְלַאֲבִירָ֗ם וַאֲבִירָ֑ם וַאֲבִירָ֖ם וַאֲבִירָ֜ם וַאֲבִירָֽם׃ ואבירם ואבירם׃ ולאבירם ’ă·ḇî·rām ’ăḇîrām aviRam ba’ăḇîrām ba·’ă·ḇî·rām baaviRam vaaviRam velaaviRam wa’ăḇîrām wa·’ă·ḇî·rām wə·la·’ă·ḇî·rām wəla’ăḇîrām
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