Achad

A'chad (Heb. Achad', אִחִד, the "constr." of אֶחָד, one, v. r. Achath', אִחִת, id.), thought by some to be the name of a heathen deity mentioned in the difficult phrase, Isa 66:17, אִתִד אִתִד בִּתָּיֶך, after one (of them) in the midst, Sept. καὶ ἐν τοῖς προθύροις, Vulg. post januam intrinsecus,

Auth. Vers. "behind one (tree) in the midst." According to Gesenius (Commentar, in loc.) the phraseology is susceptible of three interpretations: (a) "One after another in the midst;" (b) "After Achad in the midst;" (c) "After one (of their number) [i.e. a priest leading the idolatrous rites] in the midst," a rendering which he prefers (comp. Rosenmüller, Scholia in loc.). In favor of the allusion to a heathen deity is only the slender analogy with the name Adad, as a Syrian divinity. SEE HADAD. (See Mill, De Idolo אחר, in his Dissert. Select. Lugd. Bat. 1743, p. 137-166; Doderlein, Philol. Abhandl. v. d. Gott Achad, in his Vere. Abhandl. Halle, 1755, pt. 3). SEE IDOLATRY.