H0302 H0302
Ahithophel — David's brilliant but treacherous counselor who sided with Absalom's revolt
A proper name meaning 'my brother is folly,' borne by one of David's most trusted advisors. Ahithophel the Gilonite was renowned for counsel so astute it was 'as if one had inquired of the word of God' (2 Sam 16:23). Yet he betrayed David by joining Absalom's rebellion, advising the prince on strategy. When his counsel was overruled in favor of Hushai's, Ahithophel went home and hanged himself (2 Sam 17:23) — one of the most dramatic exits in the Hebrew Bible. His grandson Eliam was Bathsheba's father (2 Sam 23:34), which may partly explain his defection.
Senses
1. Ahithophel (proper name, David's counselor) — The personal name Ahithophel (אֲחִיתֹפֶל), identifying David's counselor from Giloh who defected to Absalom. All 20 occurrences cluster in the Absalom narrative (2 Sam 15–17) and two summary notices (2 Sam 23:34; 1 Chr 27:33–34). English renders 'Ahithophel/Achitophel,' Spanish 'Ahitofel/Ajitofel,' French and German 'Achitophel' — the spelling variations reflect transliteration choices rather than distinct referents. 20×
AR["أَخيتوفَلَ", "أَخيتوفَلُ", "أَخيتُوفَل", "أَخِيتُوفَلَ", "وَ-أَخيتُوفَل", "وَ-أَخِيتُوفَلُ", "وَأَخيتوفَلُ"]·ben["অহীতোফেল", "অহীতোফেলকে", "অহীতোফেলের", "অহীথোফল", "অহীথোফলের", "অহীথোফেলের", "আর-অহীথোফেল", "এবং-অহীতোফেল", "এবং-অহীথোফল"]·DE["Achitophel", "Ahitophel", "[אחיתפל]", "[ואחיתפל]", "und-Achitophel"]·EN["Achitophel", "Ahithophel", "And-Achitophel", "and-Achitophel"]·FR["Achitophel", "[אחיתפל]", "[ואחיתפל]", "et-Achitophel"]·heb["אחיתופל", "אחיתפל", "ו-אחיתופל", "ו-אחיתפל"]·HI["अहीतोपेल", "अहीतोपेल-का", "अहीतोपेल-की", "अहीतोपेल-ने", "और-अहीतोपेल", "और-अहीतोपेल-ने"]·ID["Ahitofel", "dan-Ahitofel"]·IT["Achitophel", "Ahitofel", "[אחיתפל]", "[ואחיתפל]", "e-Achitophel"]·jav["Ahitofel", "Ahitofèl", "Lan-Ahitofel", "lan-Ahitofel"]·KO["그리고-아히도벨", "그리고-아히도벨은", "그리고-아히도벨이", "아히도벨", "아히도벨에게", "아히도벨을", "아히도벨의", "아히도벨이"]·PT["'Achitofel", "Achitofel", "E-'Achitofel", "E-Achitofel", "e-'Achitofel"]·RU["-Ахитофела", "-Ахитофелу", "Ахитофел", "Ахитофела", "Ахитофеля", "и-Ахитофел", "и-Ахитофель"]·ES["Ahitofel", "Ajitofel", "Y-Ahitofel", "y-Ajitofel"]·SW["Ahithofeli", "na-Ahithofeli"]·TR["Ahitofel", "Ahitofel'e", "Ahitofel'i", "Ahitofel'in", "Ve-Ahitofel", "ve-Ahitofel"]·urd["اخیتوفل", "اخیتوفل-نے", "اخیتوفل-کا", "اخیتوفل-کے", "اور-اخیتوفل"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל n.pr.m. (my brother is folly?) David’s trusted & traitorous counsellor 2 S 15:12, 31(×2), 34; 16:15, 20, 21, 23(×2); 17:1, 6, 7, 14(×2), 15, 21, 23; 23:34 1 Ch 27:33, 34.