עֲמָשַׂי (a.ma.say)
a.ma.say
Amasai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Amasai, meaning "burdensome," appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, yet it connects to several distinct figures across different eras of Israel’s history. The sources identify him variously as a warrior who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:18), a Kohathite Levite and ancestor of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:25), a priest blowing the trumpet before the ark (1 Chronicles 15:24), and another Levite serving under King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:12).
This repetition suggests that while the name itself carried a heavy or significant connotation, it was not uncommon among the tribe of Levi. The biblical record uses these brief mentions to trace lineage and highlight faithful service, whether in military defense or temple worship. Each instance anchors the individual within the broader narrative of Judah’s spiritual and political life during the Monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amasai carries a meaning that might initially feel heavy: "burdensome." In Scripture, names often reflect the weight of a calling or the reality of life. For those who bore this name, it was not a label of defeat, but a marker of presence within God’s community. Whether standing as a warrior at Ziklag or serving in the temple courts, these individuals carried their responsibilities with quiet fidelity.
Consider the scene in 1 Chronicles 15:24. Amasai is listed among the priests blowing trumpets before the ark of the covenant. This was not a passive role; it required precision, courage, and reverence. The sound of the trumpet announced God’s presence to the people. In your own life, you may feel weighed down by duties that seem impossible to manage. Yet, like Amasai, you are part of a larger story where faithful service matters deeply to God.
God does not discard those who feel burdened. Instead, He integrates them into His work. When we serve with integrity, even small roles become acts of worship. The legacy of Amasai reminds us that our contributions, however brief they may seem in the grand narrative, are seen and valued by the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Amasai1×
- Amasai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲמָשַׂ֞י1×
- וַ/עֲמָשַׂ֡י1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 15:24
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
This verse places Amasai in a liturgical role, highlighting his active participation in leading worship through trumpet blasts before the ark.
-
II Chronicles 29:12
Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
Here, Mahath is identified as the son of Amasai, showing how the name appears in genealogical records during Hezekiah’s religious reforms.