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אָסָף

𐤀𐤎𐤐

Asaf

H623 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אָסַף to gather, collect, assemble

Definition

Proper masculine name: Asaph. Refers primarily to an individual identified as a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David as one of the chief singers and leaders of liturgical music in the Israelite sanctuary. Also designates his descendants or the guild associated with him, recognized for their involvement in temple music and worship. Additionally, serves as the personal name of two other individuals in post-exilic contexts.

Semantic Range

personal name; clan or guild name associated with temple musicians; name of a Levite, post-exilic Israelite official, or other individuals

Root / Etymology

Root: אָסַף (אסף), meaning 'to gather, collect, assemble.' The proper name אָסָף (Asaph) is formed from this root, possibly conveying the idea of 'he has gathered' or 'gatherer,' but in practice functions as a personal name without direct semantic reference to 'gathering.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, Asaph is most prominent as a Levite appointed by David to oversee musical worship with his descendants, the 'sons of Asaph,' credited with composing or performing several psalms (e.g., Psalms 73–83). In late biblical books (e.g., Nehemiah), the name appears for other individuals, such as an official in the Persian period. English translations typically use the transliterated name 'Asaph' without rendering its root meaning. The term 'sons of Asaph' refers both to genealogical descendants and to a professional group engaged in temple music over several centuries. There is no evidence for a religious or geographic shift in meaning, but the role of Asaph and his descendants as musicians is a distinctive aspect of Israelite worship, especially in the First and Second Temple periods. The meaning is distinct from the common noun 'collector' or 'gatherer,' and context always indicates a personal or collective proper name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָסַף; collector; Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first; Asaph.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אסף (ʾ-s-p̄) — gather, collect, assemble, gather in, remove

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H43 אֶבְיָסָף Father-has-gathered
H614 אָסִיף the ingathering
H622 אָסַף he gathered
H624 אָסֻף in the gathered-storehouses of
H625 אֹסֶף like ingatherings of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H623-01 אָסָ֖ף asaf HNp Asaph he gathered 27
H623-02 לְ/אָ֫סָ֥ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph 15
H623-03 וְ/אָסָ֖ף veasaf HC/Np and Asaph and he gathered 4

Occurrences in Scripture

46 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H623-01 2 Kings 18:18 אָסָ֖ף asaf HNp Asaph he gathered
H623-01 2 Kings 18:37 אָסָ֧ף asaf HNp Asaph he gathered
H623-01 Isaiah 36:3 אָסָ֖ף asaf HNp of Asaph he gathered
H623-01 Isaiah 36:22 אָסָ֧ף asaf HNp Asaph he gathered
H623-02 Psalms 50:1 לְ/אָ֫סָ֥ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph
H623-02 Psalms 73:1 לְ/אָ֫סָ֥ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph
H623-02 Psalms 74:1 לְ/אָ֫סָ֥ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph
H623-02 Psalms 75:1 לְ/אָסָ֣ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph
H623-02 Psalms 76:1 לְ/אָסָ֣ף leasaf HR/Np of Asaph to Asaph
H623-02 Psalms 77:1 לְ/אָסָ֥ף leasaf HR/Np Of Asaph to Asaph
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