The name Assir (’Assîr) is a Hebrew name that literally means “captive” or “prisoner.” This somber meaning may reflect the circumstances surrounding the birth of those who bore the name or serve as a symbolic reminder of Israel’s time in Egyptian bondage or later exile.
The Bible presents two distinct individuals named Assir, both of whom serve a key role in the long genealogical records of Israel.
Assir the Son of Korah
The most prominent biblical figure named Assir is the son of Korah, a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Numbers 16).
Assir is part of the Levite lineage of Kohath and is listed among his brothers, Elkanah and Abiasaph. Crucially, while Korah and his followers were swallowed up by the earth due to their rebellion, the scripture explicitly states that Korah’s sons were spared.
The King James Version records the sons of Korah:
And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites. (Exodus 6:24)
The Legacy of Redemption
Assir’s survival, and the subsequent flourishing of his descendants—known as the Korahites—is a powerful biblical testimony to God’s grace and mercy. Despite the infamous sin of their father, the family line was preserved. The Korahites later became renowned in the history of Israel:
- They served as doorkeepers of the Tabernacle and Temple.
- They were the celebrated musicians and singers of the sanctuary.
- Many of the Psalms bear the title “A Psalm for the sons of Korah,” demonstrating their restored and lasting place in Israel’s worship.
Assir, the son whose name means “captive,” became the progenitor of a lineage of freedom, music, and service.
Assir the Forefather of Samuel
A second individual named Assir appears later in the Levitical genealogy, descending from the first Assir. This second Assir is a key ancestor of the great prophet and judge, Samuel.
This lineage, which traces the line down to Samuel’s father, Elkanah, shows the continuity of the redeemed line:
Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, (1 Chronicles 6:23)
Assir in the Royal Line
There is a final, highly debated mention of the name Assir in the royal genealogy of King David, after the Babylonian Captivity:
And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. (1 Chronicles 3:17, KJV)
In this passage, Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin) was the captive King of Judah taken to Babylon. While the KJV renders Assir as the name of Jeconiah’s son, many modern translations interpret the original Hebrew word (’assîr) here as an appellative meaning “the captive,” referring to Jeconiah the captive, with Salathiel being his direct successor.
Regardless of the interpretation, the use of Assir in this context—whether as a name or a description—powerfully links the royal lineage to the circumstances of captivity, marking the historical low point of the Judean kingship.