Hebrew word · H44

אֲבִיעֶ֫זֶר

'avi'ezer

Abiezer

Abiezer is a clan (mišpāḥâ) of the tribe of Manasseh, settled at Ophrah (Josh 17:2; Judg 6:11, 24). The name means 'my father is help'. ʾAḥărê, 'after', with a leader as its object means to follow that leader into battle or into allegiance.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.23.27

§ Abiezer = "my father is help"

1) a Manassite, called "son" of Gilead, also son of Gilead's sister

2) a Benjamite, warrior of David

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Judges 6:34

Range of meaning: Abiezer is a clan (mišpāḥâ) of the tribe of Manasseh, settled at Ophrah (Josh 17:2; Judg 6:11, 24). The name means 'my father is help'. ʾAḥărê, 'after', with a leader as its object means to follow that leader into battle or into allegiance.
Against the English: BSB's 'the Abiezrites' makes clear that a clan is meant. KJV's 'Abi-ezer was gathered' keeps the Hebrew's treatment of the clan as one person, which may puzzle readers.
Used elsewhere in the period: 'Follow after me' is Ehud's battle call (Judg 3:28). 'Going after' a leader or a god is a common expression of loyalty (1 Sam 11:7; Judg 2:12).

From the study of 1 Chronicles 11:28

Range of meaning: A sentence-name built from ʾāv 'father' and ʿēzer 'help, helper': 'my father is help' or 'my father is [a] help'. Many Israelite names are short statements of trust like this, and 'father' in them usually refers to God.
Against the English: English versions transliterate it, which is right for a name. KJV/YLT 'Abi-ezer' / 'Abi-Ezer' with a hyphen just shows the two parts.
Used elsewhere in the period: The same name is used for a clan of Manasseh (Josh 17:2; Judg 6:11, 24, 34; 8:2), which was Gideon's clan. Names using ʿezer, such as Eliezer and Azariah, are common in Hebrew. The word ʿēzer itself is often used of God's help (Ps 33:20; 121:1–2).

Where it appears

Joshua · 1

Joshua 17:2 אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר Abiezer

So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.

Here: "My father is help." Called Iezer in Num 26:30. This is the clan of Gideon (Judg 6:11, 34), centred on Ophrah.

Judges · 2

Judges 6:34 אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר Abiezer

So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

Here: Gideon's own clan in Manasseh (Josh 17:2), named after its ancestor, and treated here as one body with a singular verb. These are the same townsmen who a few verses earlier wanted Gideon executed for wrecking Baal's altar (6:30).
Judges 8:2 אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃ Abiezer

But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?

2 Samuel · 1

2 Samuel 23:27 אֲבִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ Abiezer

Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

1 Chronicles · 3

1 Chronicles 7:18 אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר Abiezer

His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.
1 Chronicles 11:28 אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר Abiezer

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

Here: Second warrior named. The name means 'My father is help' (or 'My father is [my] help'). Here 'father' most likely refers to God. The same name belongs to a clan of Manasseh (Gideon's clan, Judg 6:11), but this man is a Benjaminite (1 Chr 27:12).
1 Chronicles 27:12 אֲבִיעֶ֥זֶר Abiezer

The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

Here: A personal name meaning "My father is help" or "(The divine) Father is help." This is the same Abiezer of Anathoth who is listed among David's elite warriors (2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles 11:28).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.