אַשְׁחוּר
Ashchur, an Israelite
Definition
Ashchur (אַשְׁחוּר) is a proper name referring to an Israelite man in the genealogical records of Judah. He is identified as the son of Hezron and Abiah, and the father of Tekoa (1 Chronicles 2:24). In a parallel or possibly supplemental genealogy, he is also listed as a descendant of Judah through Caleb and is noted as the father of the inhabitants of Tekoa (1 Chronicles 4:5). The name appears only in these two contexts, both within the Chronicler's detailed family lists, and consistently refers to this specific individual within the tribe of Judah.
Biblical Usage
The name Ashchur is used exclusively in the genealogical sections of 1 Chronicles, appearing in 1 Chronicles 2:24 and 1 Chronicles 4:5. In both instances, it functions as a proper noun identifying a male ancestor within the lineage of the tribe of Judah. The usage is purely onomastic (name-bearing) and serves to connect the lineage of Hezron and Caleb to the town of Tekoa, establishing a historical and tribal connection for that community.
Etymology
The name Ashchur is derived from the Hebrew root שָׁחַר (shachar, H7835), which means 'to be black' or 'dawn' (the blackness that precedes the morning light). As a proper name, it likely means 'black' or could be related to the concept of 'dawn.' It is possibly a theophoric name, though no divine element is explicit. The name is transliterated in the KJV as 'Ashur,' but should not be confused with the Assyrian deity or nation of the same English spelling.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried descriptive meaning or expressed hopes. A name meaning 'black' might describe physical appearance (e.g., dark hair or complexion) or, more poetically, be connected to the 'blackness' of the dawn, symbolizing a new beginning. As a figure in the Judahite genealogy, Ashchur's primary cultural significance is his link to the town of Tekoa, which later produced the prophet Amos. His placement in the genealogy legitimizes Tekoa as a Judahite settlement.
Ashur (אַשּׁוּר, H804) — This is the Hebrew name for the nation of Assyria or the Assyrian god; it is a different word and entity entirely, though the English transliteration in the KJV is similar.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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