Who was Suah in the Bible?

Suah was a descendant of Asher, mentioned in a single genealogical list in the Old Testament. He is listed as a son of Zophah, making him part of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:36).

Why is Suah mentioned in the Bible?

Suah's mention preserves the genealogical record of the tribe of Asher, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant with the tribes of Israel. His inclusion shows that even minor individuals are part of God's larger story of His people.

What is the significance of Suah's genealogy?

Genealogies like Suah's were crucial for establishing tribal lineage, inheritance rights, and priestly eligibility in Israel. They confirm the historical continuity of God's promises to the patriarchs, including Asher (Genesis 49:20).

Suah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Suah, a descendant of Asher mentioned in a genealogy.

Suah

Biography

Suah appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Asher found in 1 Chronicles 7:36, listed as a son of Zophah among the descendants of Asher, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. His inclusion in the Chronicler's genealogical tables places him within the tribal inventory of Israel that serves as the foundation of the Chronicler's historical narrative. The tribe of Asher was allocated territory in the northwestern region of Canaan along the Mediterranean coast (Joshua 19:24–31) and was noted for its productivity and prosperity (Genesis 49:20; Deuteronomy 33:24). Beyond his genealogical listing, Suah leaves no recorded narrative. His name, meaning possibly "sweeping away" or related to a similar Semitic root, offers little additional biographical insight.

Significance

Suah's presence in the Asherite genealogy of 1 Chronicles reflects the Chronicler's comprehensive theological concern to account for all twelve tribes of Israel as constituent members of God's covenant people. By tracing the lineages of even the northern tribes after the exile, the Chronicler affirms that God's purposes embrace the entirety of Israel, not merely Judah. Such genealogical entries remind readers that the biblical narrative of redemption is carried by entire communities and lineages, not only by exceptional individuals. In the New Testament, the tribe of Asher is honored through the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36), who awaited the consolation of Israel, suggesting that God's faithful purposes run through obscure family lines across centuries of history.

Verse Appearances (1)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 7:36

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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