Involved in protein synthesis (PubMed:23076791). Catalyzes the specific attachment of an amino acid to its cognate tRNA in a 2 step reaction: the amino acid (AA) is first activated by ATP to form AA-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of the tRNA (Probable). Required for germ cell development (PubMed:21464306). ATP + L-histidine + tRNA(His) = AMP + diphosphate + H(+) + L-histidyl-tRNA(His) RNAi-mediated knockdown results in gonadal defects including smaller, narrower gonads and reduced fertility with either no oocytes or no fertilized eggs in the majority of animals (PubMed:21464306). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in an increase in the expression of gpdh-1 independent of hypertonic stress (PubMed:23076791). Belongs to the class-II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family.