Who was Amal in the Bible?

Amal was a son of Helem and a descendant of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is mentioned only in a genealogical list within the tribe of Asher's lineage (1 Chronicles 7:35).

Why is Amal mentioned in the Bible?

Amal is listed to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Asher, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham's descendants. His inclusion shows that every individual in the lineage was known and valued, even if no specific events of his life are recorded.

What does the name Amal mean in the Bible?

The name Amal likely comes from a Hebrew root meaning 'labor' or 'toil.' While the Bible does not explain the meaning of his specific name, names in genealogies often reflected circumstances or hopes, connecting individuals to the broader story of Israel.

Amal

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Amal was a son of Helem, a descendant of Asher, and is listed in the genealogy of the tribe of Asher. (1Ch.7.35)

Amal

Biography

Amal was a son of Helem (also possibly called Hotham), a descendant of the tribe of Asher, listed in the genealogy of Asher recorded in 1 Chronicles 7:35. His brothers included Zophah, Imna, and Shelesh. The genealogy of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7:30–40 traces the tribe's family structure with particular attention to its military strength and capable warriors, suggesting these records were maintained for purposes of census and military organization. Asher was one of the northern tribes allotted territory along the Mediterranean coastal region in northern Canaan (Joshua 19:24–31), and its clans like Helem's family contributed to the tribal census counts referenced in 1 Chronicles. Though Amal is mentioned only in passing, his name, meaning labor or toil, is preserved within the tribal memory of one of the twelve sons of Israel.

Significance

Amal's place in the genealogy of Asher illustrates the Chronicler's conviction that every branch of Israel's tribal family deserves documentation and remembrance. Asher, whose name means happy or blessed (Genesis 30:13; 49:20), was promised abundance and royal delicacies in Jacob's blessing. The careful preservation of Asher's genealogical structure, including obscure descendants like Amal, reflects the post-exilic community's need to reconstruct tribal identity after the disruption of exile. Theologically, these genealogical lists remind readers that God's covenant extends to every family within the people of Israel, and that the corporate identity of His people is built from the accumulation of individual lives, each known and valued in the divine record.

Verse Appearances (1)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 7:35

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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