Boy Old Testament Rare
Maasai
Maasai
מַעֲשַׂי ma.a.say
Maasai (Hebrew: מַעֲשַׂי, ma.a.say) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears in 2 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 10 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Adaiah in 1 Chronicles 9.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Maasai
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 10 | Rising |
| All-time total | 159 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 19 in 2020 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | PA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Chronicles 9:12 |
| Last appears | Nehemiah 11:13 |
| Cross-references | 10 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Adiel co-occurrence Appears with Adiel in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Meshillemith co-occurrence Appears with Meshillemith in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Meshullam co-occurrence Appears with Meshullam in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Immer co-occurrence Appears with Immer in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Jeroham co-occurrence Appears with Jeroham in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Adaiah co-occurrence Appears with Adaiah in 1 Chronicles 9.
- Jahzerah co-occurrence Appears with Jahzerah in 1 Chronicles 9.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.12;
son of: Adiel (H5717H); also called Amashsai (KJV: Amashai) at Neh.11.13;
Also named: a.mash.say (עֲמַשְׁסַי "Amashsai" H6023)
§ Maasiai = "work of the Lord"
a priest who returned from exile
Maasai, also known as Amashsai, was a priest who served during the time of Nehemiah.
The biblical story
Maasai, also referred to as Amashsai, was a priest mentioned in the genealogies of the priestly families during and Nehemiah (1Ch.9.12; Neh.11.13). In the genealogy recorded in 1 Chronicles, Maasai is listed as a descendant of Adiel, who was a descendant of Immer, one of the priestly clans (1Ch.9.12). This suggests that Maasai belonged to the priestly lineage that served in the temple during the reign of David. In the book of Nehemiah, Amashsai (likely the same person as Maasai) is mentioned as the son of Azarel and a leader among the priests who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Neh.11.13). The inclusion of Maasai/Amashsai in both the pre-exilic and post-exilic records highlights the continuity of the priestly families and their service in the temple.
Key verses
Maasai appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
1 Chronicles 9:12 -
And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
Nehemiah 11:13
Show all 2 references
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 9:12
Nehemiah (1)
- Nehemiah 11:13