אֲשַׂרְאֵל (a.sar.el)
a.sar.el
Asarel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name ’aśarʾēl appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:16 as a member of the tribe of Judah. He is identified as the son of Jehallelel and the brother of Ziph, Ziphah, and Tiria. This brief genealogical note places him within the lineage of Caleb, highlighting the extensive family structures that characterized Israel during the period of the divided monarchy.
Linguistically, the name combines ’el, meaning God, with a root suggesting holding or possessing. Consequently, it translates to "God holds" or "God possesses." This theophoric element reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of embedding divine names in personal identifiers, affirming that one’s identity and lineage are sustained by God.
Its solitary occurrence underscores how Scripture preserves the names of ordinary individuals alongside prominent leaders. While ’aśarēl does not appear in narrative accounts or prophetic texts, his inclusion in the chronicles affirms the value placed on familial continuity and tribal heritage in biblical history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Asarel means "God holds" or "God possesses." It appears only once in the Bible, in a genealogy of Judah. This single mention reminds us that God knows every person by name, even those whose stories are not recorded in detail.
His inclusion shows that God cares about family lines and ordinary lives. You do not need to be famous to be remembered by Him. Your place in His story is secure because He holds you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Asarel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/אֲשַׂרְאֵֽל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:16
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
This verse lists Asarel as the son of Jehallelel, showing his specific place in the tribal lineage of Judah.