אׇסְנַפַּר
𐤀𐤎𐤍𐤐𐤓
Senapar
H620 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name referring to a foreign monarch, specifically the Assyrian (or possibly Babylonian) ruler Osnappar. Elsewhere associated with Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, in extrabiblical sources, though exact identification in the biblical text is debated. Used exclusively as a name, not as a common noun.
Semantic Range
personal name of a foreign king (Osnappar/Asnapper), title for imperial authority in a post-exilic context
Root / Etymology
Foreign derivation, etymology uncertain; possibly Assyrian or Akkadian in origin. No clear equivalent in West Semitic roots. The form appears to have been adapted into Hebrew phonology from a foreign royal name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Ezra 4:10, the name אׇסְנַפַּר (Osnappar) is mentioned in the context of the resettlement of peoples in the region of Samaria under the direction of an imperial ruler. Many scholars link Osnappar to Esarhaddon, king of Assyria (reigned 681–669 BCE), based on the succession line and broader ancient Near Eastern records. Some consider him to be Ashurbanipal (668–c. 627 BCE) due to a possible phonetic connection; however, the identification remains uncertain. The term appears only in a post-exilic context and does not occur elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. English translations usually render the name phonetically as 'Asnapper,' 'Osnappar,' or similar, but in some Jewish and Christian traditions the identification with later Assyrian or Babylonian monarchs has influenced interpretive traditions. The use of a foreign royal name underscores the impact of imperial policies on the post-exilic Judean community and the memory of Assyrian/Babylonian rule. This term is never used to refer to a Judean or Israelite identity but is reserved for a non-Israelite monarch.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign derivation; Osnappar, an Assyrian king; Asnapper.
Bantu Hebrew
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אסנפר (ʾ-s-n-p-r) — uncertain; foreign royal name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H620-01 |
אָסְנַפַּר֙ | asenapar | ANp |
Asnappar | Osnappar | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H620-01 |
Ezra 4:10 | אָסְנַפַּר֙ | asenapar | ANp |
Asnappar | Osnappar |