Asshur אַשּׁוּר
Son of Shem; father of the Assyrians
Who is Asshur in the Bible?
Asshur was a son of Shem and is listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10:22 and 1 Chronicles 1:17 as the father of the Assyrians. As one of Noah's descendants through the line of Shem, Asshur represents the ancestral origin of the Assyrian people, a powerful ancient civilization that would come to dominate much of Mesopotamia and the ancient Near East. His inclusion in the Table of Nations emphasizes the biblical account of how human populations dispersed and developed distinct cultural and ethnic identities after the flood. The Assyrian Empire that descended from Asshur's line eventually became a major historical force that repeatedly interacted with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah throughout Old Testament history.
Biography
Asshur is mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1, known as the Table of Nations. He was a son of Shem, one of the three sons of Noah. The Table of Nations records the spreading out of Noah's descendants after the flood, indicating the origins of various people groups. Asshur is associated with the Assyrians, an ancient Semitic people who inhabited the region of Mesopotamia. The Assyrians established a powerful empire that played a significant role in the history of the ancient Near East. The name Asshur is also used to refer to the chief deity of the Assyrian pantheon and the capital city of the Assyrian Empire.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Elam Tribe of LeviSon of MeshelemiahA temple gatekeeper during David's reignView full profile →
- Arpachshad Early PatriarchSon of ShemSon of Shem, ancestor of AbrahamView full profile →
- Lud Early PatriarchSon of ShemSon of Shem; progenitor of the LydiansView full profile →
- Aram Early PatriarchSon of ShemSon of Shem, ancestor of the ArameansView full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 10:22
"The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:17
"The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אַשּׁוּר | ashur | Ashshur , the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empire |