אֶבְיָסָף
Ebjasaph, an Israelite
Definition
אֶבְיָסָף (Ebjasaph) is a proper name belonging to a Levite from the line of Kohath. He is identified as the son of Korah (1 Chronicles 6:23) and the father of Assir (1 Chronicles 6:37). In the genealogical records, he appears as a key link in the priestly lineage, specifically within the family of Korahites who were gatekeepers for the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:19). The name signifies his ancestral heritage and his family's designated role in Israel's worship.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exclusively in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles, appearing three times. It functions solely to establish lineage within the tribe of Levi, specifically the Kohathite clan. The references (1 Chronicles 6:23, 6:37, 9:19) consistently place him in the context of priestly and tabernacle service, connecting him to the gatekeeping duties of his descendants.
Etymology
The name אֶבְיָסָף is a contracted form of אֲבִיאָסָף (Abiasaph, H23), meaning 'My father has gathered' or 'Father of gathering.' It is derived from the Hebrew roots אָב ('av,' father) and אָסַף ('asaph,' to gather or collect). This suggests a meaning related to God's protective gathering or the father's role in assembling a family or people.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its placement is significant. Ebjasaph's lineage connects him directly to Korah, a figure associated with rebellion (Numbers 16), yet his descendants are faithfully recorded as serving at the tabernacle gates. This illustrates God's enduring faithfulness to the Levitical covenant and His grace in maintaining a priestly line for worship, despite ancestral sin. Understanding this lineage enriches the reading of Chronicles by highlighting God's sovereign preservation of worship structures.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaning or hope. A name meaning 'father of gathering' could reflect a parental prayer for progeny or God's action in building a family. As a Levite, Ebjasaph's identity was intrinsically tied to the religious service and social structure of Israel, representing a hereditary calling rather than a personal choice.
אֲבִיאָסָף (ʼĂbîyʼâçâph, H23) — The uncontracted, longer form of the same name. קֹרַח (Qorach, H7141) — Korah, his father, a foundational figure in the Levitical line. קְהָת (Qəhāth, H6955) — Kohath, his ancestral patriarch, defining his clan within Levi.
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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