Ashkenaz
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Topical Encyclopedia
Ashkenaz is a biblical figure mentioned in the Table of Nations in the Book of Genesis. He is identified as a descendant of Noah, through the line of Japheth. The name Ashkenaz is also associated with a region or people group in ancient times.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 10:3 : "The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah." In this passage, Ashkenaz is listed as one of the sons of Gomer, who is the son of Japheth. This places Ashkenaz among the Japhetic peoples, traditionally understood to be the ancestors of various Indo-European groups.

2. 1 Chronicles 1:6 : "The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah." This verse reiterates the genealogy found in Genesis, confirming Ashkenaz's place in the lineage of Japheth.

3. Jeremiah 51:27 : "Raise a banner in the land; blow the trumpet among the nations; prepare the nations against her; summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts." In this prophetic context, Ashkenaz is mentioned alongside other regions or peoples, suggesting its recognition as a distinct group or territory during the time of Jeremiah.

Historical and Geographical Context:

The identification of Ashkenaz has been a subject of scholarly debate. Traditionally, Ashkenaz has been associated with regions in the vicinity of the Black Sea, possibly linked to the Scythians or other Indo-European tribes. Some historical sources suggest a connection to the area known as Phrygia in Asia Minor.

In later Jewish tradition, the term "Ashkenaz" came to be associated with the Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. This usage, however, is a post-biblical development and reflects the migration and settlement patterns of Jewish populations in the medieval period.

Cultural and Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the mention of Ashkenaz in the Table of Nations underscores the biblical theme of the dispersion of peoples and the diversity of nations stemming from Noah's descendants. This genealogical framework serves to highlight the unity of humanity under God's creation, while also acknowledging the distinct identities and roles of various peoples in the unfolding biblical narrative.

The prophetic mention of Ashkenaz in Jeremiah 51:27, in the context of judgment against Babylon, illustrates the broader biblical motif of divine sovereignty over nations. It reflects the belief that God orchestrates historical events and uses various peoples to accomplish His purposes, including the execution of judgment and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Overall, Ashkenaz represents both a historical lineage and a geographical entity within the biblical worldview, contributing to the rich tapestry of nations and cultures that populate the biblical narrative.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Ashkenaz

a fire that spreads

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Ashkenaz

(spreading fire), one of the three sons of Gomer, son of Japhet. (Genesis 10:3) We may probably recognize the tribe of Ashkenaz on the northern shore of Asia Minor in the name of Lake Ascanius, and in Europe in the name Scandia, Scandinavia . Knobel considers that Ashkenaz is to be identified with the German race.

ATS Bible Dictionary
Ashkenaz

A son of Gomer and grandson of Japheth, Genesis 10:3. The region people by his descendants is named in Jeremiah 51:27 with Minni and Ararat, provinces of Armenia. It probably lay towards the Black Sea.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
One of the three sons of Gomer (Genesis 10:3), and founder of one of the tribes of the Japhetic race. They are mentioned in connection with Minni and Ararat, and hence their original seat must have been in Armenia (Jeremiah 51:27), probably near the Black Sea, which, from their founder, was first called Axenus, and afterwards the Euxine.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ASHKENAZ

ash'-ke-naz ('ashkenaz): The name occurs in Genesis 10:3 1 Chronicles 16, in the list of the sons of Japheth as a son of Gomer. See TABLE OF NATIONS. It occurs also in Jeremiah 51:27 (the King James Version "Ashchenaz") in connection with the kingdoms of Ararat and Minni, which suggests a location about Armenia.

Strong's Hebrew
813. Ashkenaz -- a son of Gomer, also his desc. and their land
... 812, 813. Ashkenaz. 814 . a son of Gomer, also his desc. and their land.
Transliteration: Ashkenaz Phonetic Spelling: (ash-ken-az') Short Definition: Ashkenaz ...
/hebrew/813.htm - 6k
Library

Chapter x
... 3. And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. "Ashkenaz" might
be identified with Ascanius, the name of a sea in Bithynia. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

Appendix I.
... Nineveh, but had to retire because of the onset from the north of the Scythians,
the Ashguzai of the Assyrian monuments, probably the Ashkenaz or Ashkunza ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/appendix i.htm

[Endnotes]
... ". JAPHETH. Gomer, Magog. Madai. Javan, Tubal. Meshech. Tiras. Ashkenaz,
Elishah, Riphath, Tarshish, Togarmah. Kittim, Dodanim. It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

Thesaurus
Ashkenaz (3 Occurrences)
...ASHKENAZ. ash'-ke-naz ('ashkenaz): The name occurs in Genesis 10:3 1 Chronicles
16, in the list of the sons of Japheth as a son of Gomer. See TABLE OF NATIONS. ...
/a/ashkenaz.htm - 8k

Ash'kenaz (3 Occurrences)
Ash'kenaz. Ashkenaz, Ash'kenaz. Ashnah . ... Ash'kenaz (3 Occurrences). Genesis
10:3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. (See RSV). ...
/a/ash'kenaz.htm - 7k

Gomer (7 Occurrences)
... (2.) The eldest son of Japheth, and father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah (Genesis
10:2, 3 ... Genesis 10:3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. ...
/g/gomer.htm - 11k

Togarmah (4 Occurrences)
... Bible, 390-405 AD) Thorgoma): 1. Its Forms: A Suggested Identification: The 3rd
son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth, his brothers being Ashkenaz and Riphath ...
/t/togarmah.htm - 9k

Armenia (2 Occurrences)
... mentions the central district (UrarTu proper, near Lake Van), the land of the Manna
(Minni, Jeremiah 51:27), Nahri ("the Rivers"), Ashguza (Ashkenaz, ib), etc. ...
/a/armenia.htm - 21k

Togar'mah (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 10:3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. (See RSV).
1 Chronicles 1:6 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah. ...
/t/togar'mah.htm - 6k

Minni (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MINNI. min'-i (minni): A kingdom mentioned in
Jeremiah 51:27, along with Ararat and Ashkenaz, as assailants of Babylon. ...
/m/minni.htm - 7k

Ararat (4 Occurrences)
... In Jeremiah 51:27 Ararat is associated with Minni and Ashkenaz, which according
to the Assyrian monuments lay just to the east of Armenia. ...
/a/ararat.htm - 13k

Japheth (12 Occurrences)
... The sons of Gomer (Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah) were all settled in the West
Asian tract; while the sons of Javan (Elisah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim or ...
/j/japheth.htm - 15k

Infant (14 Occurrences)
... ensign in the land, Blow a trumpet among nations, Sanctify against it nations, Summon
against it the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz, Appoint against ...
/i/infant.htm - 12k

Resources
Who are the Ashkenazi Jews? Are the Ashkenazim truly Jews? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance
Ashkenaz (3 Occurrences)

Genesis 10:3
The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:6
The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 51:27
Set up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough canker worm.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Ashkenaz

Ashkenaz: Descendants of

Ashkenaz: Son of Gomer

Related Terms

Ashkenaz (3 Occurrences)

Ashnah (2 Occurrences)

Ashkelonites
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