Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 4:20/אבן עזרא על בראשית ד׳:כ׳
אופי' אבי ראשון וכמוהו אב, גם אביב, ולעולם לא יסמוך כי אם ביו"ד ואחיו אח:
1[THE FATHER OF SUCH AS DWELL IN TENTS.] The meaning of avi (father of) is first. The same is true of the word av (father)42) is first, i.e., is born before his son. and the word (aviv) (spring).43 (spring). When the word for father is in the construct it always has a yod suffixed to it. The same is true with the word for brother.44 suffixed to them, hence I.E.’s comment that father of is avi, brother of is achi.