Understanding Ἀχείμ (Achim) Strong’s G885: The Genealogical Link in Messiah’s Royal Lineage

Pronunciation Guide: ah-KHEEM (χ is pronounced like the ‘ch’ in Scottish ‘loch’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G885: Ἀχείμ (Achim) is a proper noun appearing in the genealogy of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah in Matthew’s Gospel. As a personal name of Hebrew origin, it refers to a descendant in the Davidic line who was the father of Eliud and son of Zadok. Though appearing only once in Scripture, Achim represents an important link in the royal ancestry that established Yeshua’s legal claim to the throne of David.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (masculine)
• Origin: Hebrew name (אָחִים, ‘Achim’) transliterated into Greek
• Usage: Exclusively in genealogical records
• Appears only in narrative sections of Matthew’s Gospel
• Indeclinable in Greek (remains the same form regardless of grammatical case)

Ἀχείμ Morphology:

• Ἀχείμ (nominative) – Achim (as subject)
• Ἀχείμ (genitive) – of Achim
• Ἐλιούδ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀχείμ (Matthew 1:14) – “Eliud begot Achim”

Origin & History

The name Ἀχείμ (Achim) appears to be derived from the Hebrew אָחִים (‘Achim’), which could mean “brothers” (plural of אָח, ‘ach’) or possibly “the Lord will establish” if from a compound form related to יָכִין (Yakhin). In classical Greek literature, this name does not appear, highlighting its specifically Hebrew character.

In the Septuagint (LXX), though the specific name Achim does not appear, similar Hebrew names were typically transliterated with careful attention to phonetic equivalence. The name’s single appearance in the New Testament genealogy suggests it was preserved through Jewish genealogical records available to Matthew, possibly from Temple archives or family records maintained by descendants of David’s line. These records were meticulously kept by Jewish families of royal or priestly descent, as lineage established their rights and responsibilities within the community.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A personal name in the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah
• A descendant in the royal line of David
• A link in the legal ancestry of Yeshua, establishing His claim to the throne
• A historical figure living during the post-exilic period of Jewish history

Ἀχείμ Translation Options:

• Achim – Direct transliteration preserving the Hebrew-Greek phonetic character
• Ahim – Simplified transliteration for English readers unfamiliar with the ‘ch’ (χ) sound
• Akhim – Transliteration emphasizing the guttural sound of the Greek chi (χ)

Biblical Usage

Ἀχείμ appears only once in the entire Bible, in Matthew 1:14 as part of the genealogy that establishes Yeshua’s legal claim to the throne of David through His adoptive father Joseph. This genealogy is carefully structured by Matthew into three sets of fourteen generations, demonstrating the divine orchestration of Messiah’s lineage and fulfillment of prophetic expectations.

Achim lived sometime after the Babylonian exile, during the period when Israel was under foreign domination. Though Scripture provides no further biographical details about him, his inclusion in this sacred genealogy indicates his significance in Yahweh’s redemptive plan. Each name in this lineage, including Achim’s, represents a link in the chain of covenant faithfulness through which God preserved the royal line despite conquest, exile, and foreign rule.

• “Zadok became the father of Achim [Ἀχείμ], Achim the father of Eliud.” Matthew 1:14

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, genealogies served crucial functions beyond mere historical record-keeping. For a Jewish audience reading Matthew’s Gospel, the genealogy established Yeshua’s credentials as the legitimate heir to David’s throne—a non-negotiable qualification for the Messiah. The inclusion of Achim, though we know little about him personally, demonstrates the meticulous preservation of these royal records even through the turbulent post-exilic period.

Jewish genealogical records were preserved with extraordinary care, particularly for families of Davidic descent. After the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE, the rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai lamented the loss of genealogical records that had been stored there, saying, “Woe to us because of the loss of the genealogical scrolls, for now we cannot distinguish between those of priestly descent and those who are not.” Matthew’s recording of these names, including Achim’s, preserves a portion of these precious records that might otherwise have been lost to history.

Theological Significance

Though appearing only briefly in Scripture, Achim’s place in Messiah’s genealogy reveals profound theological truths about God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. Each generation listed, including Achim’s, represents Yahweh’s providential preservation of the Davidic line through which He would fulfill His covenant promise: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

Achim lived during a period when Israel had no king and the throne of David stood vacant. Yet God was silently working through each generation—even through obscure figures like Achim—to prepare for the coming of the true King. This demonstrates that Yahweh accomplishes His purposes even through seemingly insignificant people and during seemingly insignificant times. The inclusion of Achim in this royal genealogy reminds us that God’s redemptive work often advances through ordinary individuals who may never realize their place in His greater story.

Personal Application

The presence of Achim in Messiah’s genealogy invites us to consider our own place in God’s ongoing story of redemption. Though we may feel obscure or insignificant, like Achim who is mentioned only once in Scripture, we each have a role to play in God’s kingdom purposes. Just as Achim’s faithful life—though largely unknown to us—formed an essential link in bringing forth the Messiah, our faithfulness matters more than our fame.

Moreover, seeing how God meticulously preserved the Davidic line through generations, including through Achim, strengthens our confidence in His sovereign care over our lives. If Yahweh could orchestrate history through centuries to bring forth His Son at precisely the right moment, we can trust Him with the details of our lives and circumstances. Even when we cannot see His hand at work, we can trust His heart and His promises.

Related Words

• Ζαδώκ (Zadok, ah-DOHK) – Father of Achim in Matthew’s genealogy, name means “righteous” or “justified” in Hebrew, emphasizing the theme of righteousness in Messiah’s lineage. See G4534
• Ἐλιούδ (Eliud, eh-lee-OOD) – Son of Achim in the genealogy, name means “God of majesty” or “God is my praise,” continuing the theme of divine exaltation in Messiah’s ancestry. See G1664
• Γενεαλογία (Genealogia, geh-neh-ah-lo-GEE-ah) – “Genealogy,” the concept of family lineage so important to establishing Messianic credentials and tribal inheritance rights in Jewish culture. See G1076
• Δαυίδ (David, dah-VEED) – The royal ancestor whose throne rights passed through Achim’s line, ultimately to Yeshua the Messiah. See G1138
• Γεννάω (Gennao, geh-NAH-oh) – “To beget/father,” the verb repeatedly used in Matthew’s genealogy to trace lineage through Achim and others in the royal line. See G1080

Did you Know?

• Did you know that Matthew’s inclusion of Achim and other post-exilic names demonstrates his access to genealogical records that were likely lost forever when the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE? These records were irreplaceable treasures of Jewish heritage, and Matthew’s Gospel preserves a portion of them that would otherwise be unknown to us today.
• Did you know that names in biblical genealogies often carried prophetic significance? While we don’t know the exact meaning intended for Achim, if derived from the Hebrew root meaning “brothers,” it could symbolize the restoration of brotherhood between God and humanity that would come through his descendant, Yeshua the Messiah.
• Did you know that Achim likely lived during the period of Persian or early Greek rule over Judea? This was a time of relative obscurity for the descendants of David, who no longer ruled as kings but preserved their lineage while living as ordinary citizens under foreign domination—a powerful reminder that God often works through periods of seeming silence and ordinary circumstances.

Remember This

Achim stands as a testament that every link in God’s redemptive chain matters—even those whose names appear only once in Scripture were vital to His unfolding plan to bring forth the Messiah and establish His eternal kingdom.