Lexical Summary
Asher: Asher
Original Word:אָשֵׁר
Part of Speech:Proper Name
Transliteration:Asher
Pronunciation:ah-SHARE
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-share')
KJV: Asher
NASB:Asher
Word Origin:[fromH833 (אָשַׁר אָשֵׁר - guide), happy]
1. Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory
2. also a place in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Asher
From'ashar, happy; Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in Palestine -- Asher
see HEBREW'ashar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
asharDefinition"happy one," a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, also perhaps a city in Pal.
NASB TranslationAsher (43).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
happy one, Felix, compare Phoenician , which however may contain (god) Asshur or Osiris, compare Bae
Rel 161).
Genesis 30:13;Genesis 35:26;Genesis 46:17;Exodus 1:4;Numbers 26:46;1 Chronicles 2:2.
the tribeGenesis 49:20;Numbers 1:13;Deuteronomy 27:13;Deuteronomy 33:24 (twice in verse);Joshua 17:10,11;Joshua 19:34;Judges 1:31;Judges 5:17;Judges 6:36;Judges 7:23;1 Kings 4:16;1 Chronicles 12:36; 2Chronicles 30:11;Ezekiel 48:2,3,34;Numbers 1:40;Numbers 2:27;Numbers 7:72;Numbers 10:26;Numbers 26:44,47;Numbers 34:27;Joshua 19:24,31;1 Chronicles 7:30,40;Numbers 1:41;Numbers 2:27;Numbers 13:13;Joshua 21:6,30;1 Chronicles 6:47;1 Chronicles 6:59.
Joshua 17:7.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Thematic EmphasisThe name evokes gladness and blessing, and every Old Testament appearance reinforces the theme of divinely granted abundance—whether of food, oil, strength, or spiritual favor.
Patriarchal Birth and Early Blessing
Genesis 30:13 records Leah’s joyful proclamation: “How happy I am! For the women will call me happy.” So the child born to Zilpah is named Asher, and from the outset happiness is linked to his identity. Later, the family list inGenesis 35:26 and the migration roll inGenesis 46:17 treat Asher as one of the foundational “seventy” who entered Egypt.
Jacob’s Prophetic Word (Genesis 49:20)
“From Asher his food will be rich, and he shall provide royal delicacies.” The patriarch foresees the tribe’s agricultural plenty and the privilege of supplying courts and kings. The prediction is fulfilled in the fertile, coastal-hill country the tribe later inherits.
Moses’ Farewell Blessing (Deuteronomy 33:24-25)
“May Asher be most blessed of sons; may he be the favorite of his brothers and dip his foot in oil. Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.” Two images dominate:
• Olive oil gushing so profusely that feet are dipped in it—symbol of prosperity and anointing.
• Iron-and-bronze bars—security and enduring vigor. These words knit together material abundance and sustained strength, themes that surface whenever the tribe appears.
Census and Camp in the Wilderness
Numbers 1:41 counts 41,500 fighting men;Numbers 2:27 places Asher on the northern side of the camp under Dan’s standard;Numbers 26:47 records an increase to 53,400 in the second census. Thus the tribe grows while journeying with the presence of God at its center, a living testimony to covenant faithfulness.
Territorial Allotment in Canaan
Joshua 19:24-31 delineates a coastal-Galilean inheritance sweeping from Carmel northward toward Sidon. The tract includes fertile valleys, coastal plains, and forested highlands—ideal for grain, vineyards, and especially olives. Cities such as Acco (Ptolemais), Aphek, Helkath, and Tyre’s vicinity fall within or border Asher’s lot, fulfilling Jacob’s picture of “royal delicacies.”
Historical Participation in Israel’s Story
• Failure to expel Canaanites (Judges 1:31-32) shows mixed obedience; they dwell “among the Canaanites,” exposing later generations to idolatrous pressure.
• Deborah’s era: “Asher remained by the seashore and stayed in his coves” (Judges 5:17). Their absence from the battlefield contrasts with their later responsiveness to Gideon (Judges 6:35; 7:23).
• United Monarchy:1 Chronicles 12:36 lists forty thousand expert warriors from Asher rallying to David—proof of martial capability when hearts are stirred by a God-chosen king.
• Hezekiah’s Passover: though despised by many in the northern kingdom, “some from Asher… humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:11). A remnant answer the call to covenant renewal.
Prophetic Allocation in Ezekiel’s Vision
Ezekiel 48 assigns Asher a strip of land in the future restored Israel (verses 2–3, 7, 23, 26-27, 34). The tribe’s name is even inscribed on one of the gates of the New City (48:34), guaranteeing enduring identity and blessing in the Messianic age.
Legacy into the New Testament Era
Luke 2:36 introduces “Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.” Centuries after the exile, Asherite lineage survives, and an aged worshiper bears witness to the infant Messiah. The tribe once famed for “delicacies” now offers the highest gift—public testimony to Jesus Christ.
Theological and Ministry Insights
1. God Delights to Bless. From birth to final prophecy, Asher illustrates that divine favor is not a fleeting emotion but a covenant reality.
2. Abundance Must Be Shared. Royal delicacies and overflowing oil hint at ministry to others; believers, like Asher, are stewards of plenty meant for the King’s table.
3. Strength Matches Days. Moses’ promise of iron-and-bronze security couples with the exhortation to persevere; physical borders and spiritual resolve both come from the Lord.
4. Remnant Faithfulness. Whether joining David or Hezekiah, Asher shows that individuals can rise above a tribe’s earlier failures and choose obedience.
5. Enduring Identity in Christ. Anna’s witness and Ezekiel’s gate confirm that God preserves names written in His plan; tribal distinctives find ultimate fulfillment in the redeemed community around the Messiah.
Selected Key References
Genesis 30:13; 35:26; 46:17
Genesis 49:20
Exodus 1:4
Numbers 1:41; 2:27; 26:47
Deuteronomy 27:13; 33:24-25
Joshua 19:24-31
Judges 1:31-32; 5:17; 6:35; 7:23
1 Chronicles 7:30-40; 12:36
2 Chronicles 30:11
Ezekiel 48:2-34
Luke 2:36-38
Asher’s forty-three Old Testament occurrences trace a line from joyful birth to prophetic future, consistently displaying the goodness of God and inviting every generation to walk in the same blessed happiness.
Forms and Transliterations
אָ֠שֵׁר אָשֵֽׁר׃ אָשֵׁ֑ר אָשֵׁ֔ר אָשֵׁ֖ר אָשֵׁ֗ר אָשֵׁ֜ר אָשֵׁ֥ר אָשֵׁר֙ אָשֵׁר֮ אשר אשר׃ בְּאָשֵׁ֖ר בְּאָשֵׁ֤ר באשר וְאָשֵֽׁר׃ וְאָשֵׁ֑ר וְאָשֵׁ֔ר וּבְאָשֵׁ֗ר וּבְאָשֵׁר֙ וּלְאָשֵׁ֣ר וּמֵאָשֵׁ֗ר ואשר ואשר׃ ובאשר ולאשר ומאשר לְאָשֵׁ֕ר לאשר מֵֽאָשֵׁ֔ר מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר מֵאָשֵׁ֥ר מאשר ’ā·šêr ’āšêr aSher bə’āšêr bə·’ā·šêr beaSher lə’āšêr lə·’ā·šêr leaSher mê’āšêr mê·’ā·šêr meaSher ū·ḇə·’ā·šêr ū·lə·’ā·šêr ū·mê·’ā·šêr ūḇə’āšêr ūlə’āšêr uleaSher ūmê’āšêr umeaSher uveaSher veaSher wə’āšêr wə·’ā·šêr
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