Lexical Summary Asnah: Asnah Original Word: אַסְנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Asnah Of uncertain derivation; Asnah, one of the Nethinim -- Asnah. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps "thornbush," one of the Nethinim NASB Translation Asnah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַסְנָה proper name, masculine (Aramaic אֲסָנָא thorn-bush?) head of a family of Nethinim Ezra 2:50 (omitted by Nehemiah 7:52). Topical Lexicon Biblical OccurrenceAsnah appears only once in Scripture, in the post-exilic register of those who returned to Judah with Zerubbabel: “the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, and the descendants of Nephusim” (Ezra 2:50). The parallel census in Nehemiah 7:52 records the same name with minor orthographic variation, confirming the place of this family within the restored community. Historical Context The list of Ezra 2 chronicles approximately fifty thousand exiles whom God stirred to leave Babylon and rebuild His house in Jerusalem (Ezra 2:64–65). Within that register, verses 43–58 single out the Nethinim and “sons of Solomon’s servants,” hereditary temple workers who assisted the Levites in duties such as water drawing, wood cutting, and maintenance of sacred vessels (compare Joshua 9:27; 1 Chronicles 9:2). The “descendants of Asnah” belong to this cadre. Their inclusion underscores how every stratum of society—priests, Levites, laypeople, and servants—shared responsibility in re-establishing covenant worship after the exile. The Role of the Temple Servants 1. Support for Sacrificial Worship: By handling labor-intensive tasks, the Nethinim freed the Levites to focus on music, gatekeeping, and instruction (Ezra 7:24; Nehemiah 11:3). Textual Correlations • Ezra 2:43–54 and Nehemiah 7:46–56 list identical servant families, confirming textual reliability. Theological Significance 1. Divine Inclusivity: The mention of Asnah, though brief, highlights the Lord’s regard for unseen ministries. “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work” (Hebrews 6:10). Practical Ministry Applications • Value Hidden Service: Modern congregations can honor custodians, musicians, and volunteers, recognizing that visible leadership depends on their labor (1 Corinthians 12:22). Summary Though Scripture records Asnah only by name and lineage, the family’s presence in the returning remnant illuminates God’s meticulous care for every servant in His house. The descendants of Asnah, alongside the wider body of Nethinim, embody humble perseverance, covenant loyalty, and the indispensable nature of supportive ministry in the unfolding redemptive plan. Forms and Transliterations אַסְנָ֥ה אסנה ’as·nāh ’asnāh asNahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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