Second son of the Patriarch Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's servant. He was founder of the tribe of Asher.
About Asher
Jacob’s son born to Leah’s maid Zilpah (Genesis 30:12–13). The name Asher likely means "happy." It was chosen by Leah to express her joy at his birth. Asher had four sons—Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah—and a daughter named Serah (Genesis 46:17; 1 Chronicles 7:30).
Some believe the tribe of Asher may have been named after a location mentioned in Egyptian texts from the 13th century BC. However, it is more probable that the tribe was named after its ancestor. Asher and his brothers received special blessings and prophecies from Jacob as he was dying (Genesis 49:20; compare Deuteronomy 33:24–25, where Moses also blessed Asher and the other tribes).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Israel, Zilpah
- Sibling
- Gad (Patriarch)
- Half-siblings 11
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan (Patriarch), Naphtali, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph, Benjamin
- Children 5
- Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi (Genesis 46:17), Beriah, Serah
- Nieces & Nephews 52
- Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zerah, Shaul, Gershon, Kohath, Merari, Jochebed, Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, Zerah, Hushim (Genesis 46:23), Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arod, Areli, Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron, Sered, Elon (Genesis 46:14), Jahleel, Manasseh (Son of Joseph), Ephraim, Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
- Uncle
- Esau
- Cousins 5
- Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, Korah
Key References
When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,
Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.
And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil.
All Scripture References (45)
Genesis (4)
Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.
Exodus (1)
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
Numbers (11)
from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;
From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
those registered to the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.
The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ocran,
On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near.
Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,
from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah.
And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.
These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.
Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;
Deuteronomy (2)
And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil.
Joshua (8)
Now the border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem, then southward to include the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.
The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:
This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Asher, including these cities and their villages.
Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.
The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
From the tribe of Asher they were given Mishal, Abdon,
Judges (5)
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.
So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.
Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.
Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.
Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
2 Samuel (1)
and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
1 Kings (1)
Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;
1 Chronicles (6)
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands.
The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.
All these were the descendants of Asher—heads of their families, choice and mighty men of valor, and chiefs among the leaders. The number of men fit for battle, recorded in their genealogies, was 26,000.
And from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh there: 120,000 armed with every kind of weapon of war.
2 Chronicles (1)
Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
Ezekiel (3)
Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west.
Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west.
And on the west side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.
Luke (1)
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
Revelation (1)
from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,