Asipha
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Asiphim were a group of temple-servants who returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem. They are mentioned in 1 Esdras 5:29.
What is the meaning of Asipha in the Bible?
The Asiphim were a group of temple-servants who returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem. They are mentioned in 1 Esdras 5:29.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying the Asiphim clarifies the hierarchical structure of the Second Temple community, showing how non-priestly personnel supported religious rituals and maintained the temple infrastructure during the post-exilic restoration.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Asipha. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Asipha in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Asipha clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.
How to Cite This Entry
"Asipha." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/asipha/