Who and what is…
Asshur

Hebrew: אַשּׁוּר —transliteration: Ashshuwr —meaning: step, going —occurrences: 151 times in Scripture

also known as: Assur, 'Aššūr, Ashur, Ashshur, Ašur, Asur and Assyria (the later being the most common form of the name in English Bibles)

This is the name of a Biblical man, a capital city and land, and a false god.

1. Asshur (Assur), son of Shem

   This is one of the first boys born after the worldwide flood of Noah’s time. He is the 2nd son of Shem, and a grandson of Noah. His influence was great. His known brothers are listed below.

   In the years after the worldwide flood, he left the land of Shinar and built Nineveh, and other important cities.

   …he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. —Genesis 10:11-12 NASB

   The name of the land we know as Assyria almost certainly comes from his name. They are both exactly the same word in Hebrew: אַשּׁוּר.

   The man bearing this name is also mentioned in Numbers 24:22, 24:24; Ezek. 27:23, etc.).

   Relatives of the man Assur (Asshur)

   • Grandfather: Noah
   • Father: Shem
   • Brothers: Elam, Arphaxad (Arpachshad), Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech (Genesis 10:22; 1 Chronicles 1:17)
   • Descendants: Assyrians

2. Assur (Asshur), the city and the region

   also known as: Qal'at Sherqat

   Transliteration of the Assyrian cuneiform: Aššur

   The people of this city and region are called Assyrians. Whereas, the people called Ashurites (aka Asherites) are people of the Hebrew Tribe of Asher.

   In ancient times, the Assyrians grew to be powerful conquerors and a world power.

   See: Assyria

   Assur was the original capital of Assyria, a city represented by mounds of the later Kalah Sherghat, on the west bank of the Tigris River in modern Iraq.

   Site of ancient Assur in modern Iraq—satellite view

   This city was founded by Bel-kap-kapu about B.C. 1700. At a later date the capital was shifted to Ninua (aka Nineveh), now Koyunjik, on the eastern bank of the river.

3. Asshur, the false god

   He was the sun god of the Assyrians,

   also known as: Ashur, Assur, Asshur, Aššur, Ašur, Asur, Ashshur, Bêlu Rabû (“great lord”), Ab Ilâni (“father of gods”), Šadû Rabû (“great mountain”)

More information

• Who is Shem?
• What is the land of Shinar?
• What is Assyria?
• What is Calah?
• What is Nineveh and why is it important?
• About idolatry and false gods in the Bible
• Who are Ashurites of 2 Samuel 2:9?
Article Version: September 27, 2021