Asaphic
/əˈsæfɪk/noun
Relating to Asaph, a Levite musician and traditionally credited author or compiler of several biblical psalms.
Did you know?The term refers to the Asaphite musical tradition associated with Psalms 50 and 73–83, whose texts often wrestle with divine judgment, injustice, and hidden wisdom.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
אָסָף (Asaph)
“A personal name traditionally interpreted as “he gathers” or “he has gathered.””
10th Century BCE
Ancient Israelite Hebrew
Asaph
“A Levite musician appointed in the worship tradition of King David, according to the Hebrew Bible.”
Septuagint period
Greek
Asaph
“The name was transliterated into Greek in the biblical translation tradition.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Asaph
“The biblical name was transmitted through Latin biblical and ecclesiastical writing.”
19th Century
English
Asaphic
“An adjective meaning relating to Asaph or the psalms attributed to him.”
Modern English
English
Asaphic
“Rare scholarly or ecclesiastical adjective referring to Asaph, his musical guild, or the Asaph psalms.”