ABI ā’ bī (composition of names). Used in many Heb. names as “father of” or “the father is” or “my father is.” The term does not necessarily refer to one’s physical father. Grammatically it may be subjective, as Abiathar, “father of abundance,” or objective, as Abijah, “Jah (Yahweh, Jehovah) is father,” or “is my father.” Abiathar may indicate a person characterized by abundance.

The mother of King Hezekiah, spoken of also as the daughter of Zechariah. The name is a contraction of Abijah (2 Kings 18:2; 2 Chron 29:1).