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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Amasa


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Amasa Amasa

The name Amasa is applied twice in the Bible. Most famously is Amasa the son of Abigail, one of two sisters of David. This Amasa becomes an army leader, first of Absalom (2 Sam 17:25), later of David (19:13), supplanting his cousin Joab. For this and other reasons Joab kills him (20:10). The other Amasa is a leader of Ephraim (2 Chr 28:12).

The name Amasa comes from the verb amas (amas 1643), which may also be spelled with a sin in stead of an samekh: amas, see for instance Neh 4:11. Either form of the verb amas means to load or carry a load.

The name Amasa means Burden Bearer (NOBSE). A related name is Amos.

BDB lists another possibility, namely a combination of the name Jesse (Jesse) and the word am ('am 1640e), kinsman (on the father's side). This word comes from the same root as the similar words am ('am 1640a), people, as used in names like Amram and Rehoboam, and am ('im 1640b), the preposition 'with,' such as found in the name Immanuel (With Us Is God).

Following this line of thought, the name Amasa would mean Kin To Jesse, or Jesse's People. Something similar may happen with the name Abishai.



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