Aod

Aod is the form of Ehud used in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint). It is recorded in the Book of Judges as the name of a left-handed Benjamite judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression by assassinating King Eglon (Judges 3:12–30).

The underlying Hebrew name Ehud has uncertain etymology. It may derive from the root ʾaḥaḏ, meaning “to unite,” or from hoḏ, meaning “glory.” Aod thus indirectly carries these potential meanings. In the Greek tradition, the Hebrew name אֵהוּד was transliterated as Αωδ (Aod) rather than retaining the vocalization of the original.

Biblical Context

Aod/Ehud’s account describes him as a son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. He carried a two-edged sword hidden on his right thigh (using his left hand), an unusual detail given the stigma often attached to left-handedness in antiquity. The narrative emphasizes his role as a deliverer, a common theme in the Book of Judges. After Eglon’s death, Aod gathered the Israelites and seized the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Moabites and defeating them.

This story has drawn attention from biblical scholars and commentators who note the irony that the judge reversed physical disadvantage (left-handedness) into tactical advantage. Later Jewish and Christian exegesis often saw Aod as a type of rescue figure.

Related Names and Forms

Aod is one of the only forms of this name used in a non-Hebrew biblical language. The Latin Vulgate renders it as Ahoth. The modern Hebrew form is Ehud, which also occurs in post-biblical Jewish contexts. A modern diminutive, Udi (male or female), is also used in Hebrew. No significant distribution outside of biblical translations in orthodox Christian or scholarly contexts is recorded.

Notable Bearer

The only historically recorded bearer of this name is the biblical judge. Its usage beyond biblical citations is exceedingly rare, typically confined to liturgical or literary references in Greek-speaking Christian traditions. The name does not appear in the Byzantine imperial or ecclesiastical records beyond manuscript tradition images.

• Meaning: possibly “unite” or “glory” (of the underlying Hebrew)
• Origin: Hebrew, transmitted through Greek
• Type: Biblical judge, deliverer
• Language Use: Greek Old Testament