אַשְׂרִיאֵל
Asriel, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Asriel is a proper name given to two individuals in the Old Testament. The primary figure is a descendant of Manasseh, listed as the son of Gilead and head of the Asrielite clan (Numbers 26:31, Joshua 17:2). A second, possibly distinct, Asriel is mentioned in the genealogy of Manasseh as a son of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:14). The name's meaning, connected to 'vow' or 'binding,' signifies a person dedicated to God.
Biblical Usage
The name Asriel appears exclusively in genealogical and tribal allotment contexts. It identifies a clan head within the tribe of Manasseh during the wilderness census (Numbers 26:31) and the subsequent land distribution west of the Jordan (Joshua 17:2). The 1 Chronicles 7:14 reference places an Asriel in a different generational position within Manasseh's lineage, which may indicate a separate individual or a variation in the genealogical record.
Etymology
Asriel (אַשְׂרִיאֵל) is an orthographical variation of the name Ashriel (אֲשַׂרְאֵל, H840). It is a compound name, likely derived from the root אָסַר (ʼāsar, H631), meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie,' combined with אֵל (ʼēl), the common word for 'God.' Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'vow of God' or 'bound to God,' indicating a person under a sacred obligation or dedication.
Semantic Range
While primarily a personal name, Asriel's inclusion in tribal lists underscores the biblical theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises through specific family lines. The name's meaning ('vow of God' or 'bound to God') subtly reflects the reciprocal bond of the covenant relationship, where God commits to His people and they, in turn, are called to be dedicated to Him. Understanding this enriches the reading of these genealogies by seeing them as more than lists, but as testimonies to God's sovereign work through generations.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or attributes of God. Asriel, meaning 'bound to God,' likely expressed the parents' desire for their child to live in a dedicated relationship with Yahweh. Its use as a clan name (the Asrielites) shows how a familial identity could be built around this concept of divine dedication.
Ashriel (ʼĂśarʼēl, H840) — An orthographical variant of the same name. Gilead (Gilʻād, H1568) — Asriel's father, a prominent figure and namesake of a region in Manasseh. Manasseh (Mĕnasheh, H4519) — The tribe to which the Asrielites belonged.
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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