"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Abilene Meaning in the Bible
Abilene
girl
Abilene means "meadow" or "land of grass," a place name from the region north-west of Damascus. Luke 3:1 dates the ministry of John the Baptist partly by "Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene."
Is Abilene in the Bible?
Yes — Abilene appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 3:1.
Pronunciation:/AB-ih-leen/
OriginHebrew
MeaningMeadow; Land of grass; Green pasture
What does Abilene mean?
Abilene is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Meadow; Land of grass; Green pasture". Abilene is the green pasture — and the LORD makes us lie down in green pastures. 'He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.' Abilene is the restful place where God provides.
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Editor’s reflection
A Roman province in Luke 3 — and a place name that became a girl's name by way of Texas.
Abilene comes from the Greek Abilene, itself from the Semitic abel, 'meadow' or 'grassy place' — the same element behind Abel-meholah and Abel-beth-maachah. It describes watered grassland, which is what the region north-west of Damascus actually is.
It appears once, in Luke's careful dating of John the Baptist's ministry: 'Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene' (Luke 3:1). Luke lists emperor, governor, three tetrarchs and two high priests, anchoring the gospel in verifiable public history rather than 'once upon a time.' Inscriptions have since confirmed a Lysanias in that region, which is one reason Luke 3:1 gets cited in discussions of the gospel's reliability.
The modern English name arrived by a different road: Abilene, Kansas and Abilene, Texas were named from the Bible by nineteenth-century settlers, and the American place names carried the word into general use as a given name. Most people who meet it today hear the city first.
It is not a biblical person's name, and it is honest to say so. What it does carry is a real scriptural word for well-watered meadow, a Luke 3 reference, and the short forms Abi, Abby and Lena.
“Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests.”
Why parents choose Abilene today
- •Genuine scriptural word ('meadow') even though no person bears it
- •Familiar short forms: Abi, Abby, Lena
- •Softer alternative to Abigail with a different root
What does Abilene mean in the Bible?
Abilene means "Meadow; Land of grass; Green pasture" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Abilene is the green pasture — and the LORD makes us lie down in green pastures. 'He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.' Abilene is the restful place where God provides.
Where does Abilene appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Abilene is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Luke 3:1. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar... and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene."
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Which books of the Bible mention Abilene?
Abilene is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Abilene?
Abilene is the green pasture — soul restored, still waters found, the meadow where the Shepherd provides rest and provision.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Abilene:
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What names are related to Abilene?
Names like Abilene
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Meadow; Land of grass; Green pasture" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Abilene
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Abilene
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Abilene name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes, as a place. Abilene was the territory ruled by the tetrarch Lysanias, named in Luke 3:1 in the dating of John the Baptist's ministry. The word comes from the Semitic abel, 'meadow.' No person in Scripture is named Abilene.
Yes — Abilene appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 3:1.
Abilene means "Meadow; Land of grass; Green pasture." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Luke 3:1, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Abilene
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Abilene?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Abilene?
You can read every verse where Abilene appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.