Ehud (Hebrew: אֵהוּד) is a masculine given name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Hebrew root אָחַד meaning "to unite" or from הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning "glory." It appears in the Old Testament as the name of Ehud ben‑Gera, a judge of Israel who delivered the Israelites from Moabite oppression. Etymology and Biblical Context The meaning of Ehud remains debated. Some scholars connect it to the Hebrew verb ʾaḥaḏ ("to unite"), while others relate it to hoḏ ("glory, majesty"). The name is purely biblical and not generally used in modern Hebrew or English-speaking contexts outside of religious tradition, though the Hebrew diminutive Udi is occasionally used. Notable Bearer: The Biblical Judge According to the Book of Judges (chapter 3), Ehud was a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. He was sent by God to free the Israelites from King Eglon of Moab, who had oppressed them for eighteen years. Feigning a tribute offering, Ehud gained private audience with the king. Being left-handed, he concealed a shortsword on his right thigh—an unexpected location, since most warriors carried weapons on their left. He drew the sword, killed the obese king in his private chamber, and escaped. Ehud then rallied the Israelites to seize the fords of the Jordan River, cutting off the Moabites and securing peace for 80 years. This narrative emphasizes tactical cunning—left-handedness gave Ehud a surprise advantage—and is interpreted as divine deliverance through an unexpected agent. Cultural and Linguistic Variants In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), his name appears as Aod (Αωδ). The Latin Vulgate renders it as Ahoth. These forms reflect different transcriptional and transliteral traditions. Significance and Aftermath Ehud is often cited as a deliverer who acted individually to spark national liberation—a type of judge of an early tribal confederacy. The Moabites were subdued, and the stolen statues of pagan gods reportedly ended up at Bethel, condemning idolatry. The account also involves a historical element: Ehud's exploits centered on the region of Jericho (the "city of palms"), which indicates ongoing geopolitical power plays over territory east of the Jordan. Ehud's success brought the land into canonical literacy as a cautionary tale about cycles of sin, punishment, repentance, and deliverance. Meaning: Possibly "united" or "glory" Origin: Hebrew Type: First name Usage: Hebrew, English Bible, Hebrew Bible Usages in other languages: Biblical Greek (Aod), Biblical Latin (Ahoth)