Lexical Summary Assir: Assir Original Word: אַסִּיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Assir The same as 'acciyr; prisoner; Assir, the name of two Israelites -- Assir. see HEBREW 'acciyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom asar Definition an Isr. name NASB Translation Assir (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַסִּיר proper name, masculine son of Korah Exodus 6:24; 1 Chronicles 6:7; called son of Ebiasaph v.1 Chronicles 6:8; v.1 Chronicles 6:22. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Symbolism The name is built on the idea of captivity. In the Old Testament it functions both as a personal name and, once, as an epithet (“the captive”) applied to a king whose life was literally defined by exile. Thus every occurrence carries the dual thought of bondage and the possibility of gracious preservation. Occurrences and Contexts • Exodus 6:24 – Listed among “the clans of the Korahites.” Assir son of Korah: Grace after Judgment Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron and was swallowed by the earth (Numbers 16). Yet “the sons of Korah did not die” (Numbers 26:11). Assir, the first-named of those sons (Exodus 6:24), stands as living evidence that God’s judgment can be accompanied by mercy toward future generations. His descendants became gatekeepers and musicians, authoring Psalms 42; 44–49; 84–85; 87–88. From a line that once challenged God-appointed leadership arose servants who led the congregation in worship—an enduring testimony that divine grace can transform a legacy of rebellion into one of praise. Levitical Continuity and Worship Ministry The repeated appearance of the name in 1 Chronicles 6 shows deliberate emphasis on priestly succession. By the time of Samuel, and later of David, Korahite descendants were entrusted with guarding the thresholds of the Tent of Meeting and the Temple (1 Chronicles 9:19). Generations after the wilderness wanderings, Assir’s line was still faithfully standing at the door of God’s house, reminding Israel that covenant faithfulness is measured in centuries, not merely moments. Assir in the Royal Genealogy: Hope in Exile In 1 Chronicles 3:17 the same Hebrew word is applied to Jehoiachin, “the captive.” Far from an editorial accident, the Chronicler links the motif of captivity to the Davidic promise. Even in Babylonian exile, the line of Messiah is traced, demonstrating that no foreign power can sever God’s covenant. Matthew 1:12 will later pick up the same branch (“Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel”) to underscore that the royal promise survived captivity and reached its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Theological Reflections 1. Judgment and Mercy: Assir’s Korahite pedigree illustrates Romans 11:22 long before Paul wrote it—severity toward sin, kindness toward those who continue. Summary Strong’s 617 weaves together strands of rebellion and redemption, exile and expectation. Whether standing at the Tabernacle gates or languishing in a Babylonian prison, the bearers of this name bear witness to the God who disciplines yet preserves, who judges yet restores, and who ultimately brings captive hearts into joyful service before His throne. Forms and Transliterations אַסִּ֔יר אַסִּ֔ר אַסִּ֥יר אסיר אסר וְאַסִּ֥יר ואסיר ’as·sir ’as·sîr ’assir ’assîr asSir veasSir wə’assîr wə·’as·sîrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 6:24 HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף NAS: of Korah: Assir and Elkanah KJV: of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, INT: the sons of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph 1 Chronicles 3:17 1 Chronicles 6:22 1 Chronicles 6:23 1 Chronicles 6:37 5 Occurrences |