Hebrew word · H5915

עַכְסָה

'akhsah

Achsah

A personal name, usually linked to ʿekes "anklet, ankle-bangle" (Isa 3:18), so something like "Anklet" or "Bangle".

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

A woman living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.15.16;

daughter of: Caleb (H3612);

sister of: Iru (H5900), Elah (H0425J) and Naam (H5277); married to Othniel (H6274)

§ Achsah = "ankle chain" or "anklet"

the daughter of Caleb and wife of Caleb's brother Othniel to whom she was given as a reward for capturing Debir

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 Joshua 15:16

Range of meaning

A personal name, usually linked to ʿekes "anklet, ankle-bangle" (Isa 3:18), so something like "Anklet" or "Bangle".

Against the English

Spelled Achsah (KJV, WEB, ESV, NASB), Acsah (BSB, NLT) or Aksah (NIV). These are spelling differences only.

Used elsewhere in the period

Named only in this story and its parallel (Josh 15:16–19; Judg 1:12–15) and in Caleb's genealogy (1 Chr 2:49).

From the study of Joshua 15:17

Range of meaning

A woman's name. It is linked to ʿekhes, 'anklet, ankle bangle' (Isa 3:18), and to a verb meaning 'to jingle (the anklets)' (Isa 3:16).

Against the English

BSB spells it 'Acsah', KJV/WEB 'Achsah'. Same person.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josh 15:16–19; Judg 1:12–15; 1 Chr 2:49 ('the daughter of Caleb was Achsah').

Where it appears

Joshua · 2

  1. Joshua 15:16 עַכְסָ֥ה Achsah

    And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”

    Here: Caleb's daughter (1 Chr 2:49). Her name is usually linked to ʿekes, "anklet, ankle-bangle" (Isa 3:18), an ornament name. In the next verses she proves anything but a passive ornament (vv.18–19).

  2. Joshua 15:17 עַכְסָ֥ה Achsah

    So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

    Here: Caleb's daughter. Her name is related to the Hebrew word for an ankle bangle (Isa 3:18). In the next two verses she becomes the one who acts, securing land and springs from her father.

Judges · 2

  1. Judges 1:12 עַכְסָ֥ה Achsah

    And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”

  2. Judges 1:13 עַכְסָ֥ה Achsah

    So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 2:49 עַכְסָֽה׃ ס Achsah

    She was also the mother of Shaaph father of Madmannah, and of Sheva father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah.

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