Boy Old Testament Known
Asaph
who gathers together
אָסָף a.saph
Asaph (Hebrew: אָסָף, a.saph) means “who gathers together”, by traditional interpretation. Four men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a Levite. In 2025 it was given to 30 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears in the same passages as Abi.
Which Asaph?
Four men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Asaph
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Asaph
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Asaph
father of Joah
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Asaph
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 52 across 7 books
- Bearers
- 4 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 30 | Rising |
| All-time total | 431 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 36 in 2022 | Its highest year on record |
| Ten-year trend | +126% | Change in share of births |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Kings 18:18 |
| Last appears | Isaiah 36:22 |
| Cross-references | 1,074 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Jeduthun co-occurrence Appears with Jeduthun in 1 Chronicles 15.
- Heman co-occurrence Appears with Heman in 1 Chronicles 15.
- Joah co-occurrence Appears with Joah in 2 Kings 18.
- Hilkiah co-occurrence Appears with Hilkiah in 2 Kings 18.
- Mattaniah co-occurrence Appears with Mattaniah in Nehemiah 12.
- Joseph co-occurrence Appears with Joseph in 1 Chronicles 25.
- Shebna co-occurrence Appears with Shebna in 2 Kings 18.
- Eliakim co-occurrence Appears with Eliakim in 2 Kings 18.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18;
father of: Joah (H3098)
§ Asaph = "gatherer"
1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary
2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David
3) a Persian officer over the royal forest
Asaph was a Levite musician and psalmist during David's reign, and his descendants served as temple singers (1Ch.6.39; 15:17, 19; 16:5, 7, 37; 25:1, 2, 6, 9; 2Ch.5.12; 20:14; 29:13, 30; 35:15; Ezra 2:41; 3:10; Neh.7.44; 11:22; 12:35, 46; Psalms 50, 73-83).
The biblical story
Asaph was a prominent Levite musician and psalmist during the reign of King David. He was appointed by David as one of the leaders of music in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Asaph, along with Heman and Ethan, was responsible for leading the musical worship and prophesying with lyres, harps, and cymbals. He also composed and collected psalms, with 12 psalms (50, 73-83) attributed to him in the Book of Psalms. Asaph's descendants continued to serve as temple singers and musicians for generations, as evidenced by their mention in the reigns of subsequent kings and in the post-exilic period. The "sons of Asaph" are often referred to as a distinct group of temple singers, highlighting the enduring legacy of Asaph's musical contributions to Israelite worship.
Key verses
Asaph appears in 33 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
1 Chronicles 6:39 -
So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
1 Chronicles 15:17 -
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
1 Chronicles 15:19 -
Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed–edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
1 Chronicles 16:5 -
Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
1 Chronicles 16:7
Show all 33 references
1 Chronicles (10)
- 1 Chronicles 6:39
- 1 Chronicles 15:17
- 1 Chronicles 15:19
- 1 Chronicles 16:5
- 1 Chronicles 16:7
- 1 Chronicles 16:37
- 1 Chronicles 25:1
- 1 Chronicles 25:2
- 1 Chronicles 25:6
- 1 Chronicles 25:9
2 Chronicles (5)
- 2 Chronicles 5:12
- 2 Chronicles 20:14
- 2 Chronicles 29:13
- 2 Chronicles 29:30
- 2 Chronicles 35:15
Ezra (2)
- Ezra 2:41
- Ezra 3:10
Nehemiah (4)
- Nehemiah 7:44
- Nehemiah 11:22
- Nehemiah 12:35
- Nehemiah 12:46
Psalms (12)
- Psalms 50:1
- Psalms 73:1
- Psalms 74:1
- Psalms 75:1
- Psalms 76:1
- Psalms 77:1
- Psalms 78:1
- Psalms 79:1
- Psalms 80:1
- Psalms 81:1
- Psalms 82:1
- Psalms 83:1