Original Word: אֶבְיָסָף
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ebyacaph
Pronunciation: eb-yaw-sawf'
Phonetic Spelling: (eb-yaw-sawf')
KJV: Ebiasaph
NASB: Ebiasaph
Word Origin: [contracted from H23 (אֲבִיאָסָף - Abiasaph)]

1. Ebjasaph, an Israelite

Ebiasaph

Contracted from 'Abiy'acaph; Ebjasaph, an Israelite -- Ebiasaph.

see HEBREW 'Abiy'acaph

Word Origin
contr. from Abiasaph, q.v.
NASB Translation
Ebiasaph (3).

Name Significance

Though the lexical data lies elsewhere, the name Ebiasaph conveys the idea of gathering—a hint at the later role of his descendants, who assembled and protected the congregation at the sanctuary.

Biblical Occurrences

1 Chronicles 6:23; 6:37; 9:19—each reference situates Ebiasaph in the Levitical genealogies descended from Korah.

Genealogical Setting

Levi → Kohath → Izhar → Korah → Ebiasaph → Assir → Tahath … culminating in the musician-prophet Heman (1 Chronicles 6:33-38).

Another branch leads to Kore and then Shallum, chief gatekeeper after the exile (1 Chronicles 9:19).

Korahite Heritage and Worship Ministry

After Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16), “the sons of Korah did not die” (Numbers 26:11). Ebiasaph stands among those spared, and his line demonstrated renewed devotion:

• Gatekeepers — “Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah… were over the work of the service, guardians of the thresholds of the tent” (1 Chronicles 9:19).
• Musicians — His descendant Heman served with cymbals, lyres, and harps before the Ark (1 Chronicles 25:5-6).
• Psalmists — Eleven canonical Psalms (42; 44-49; 84; 85; 87; 88) bear the inscription “For the sons of Korah,” echoing Ebiasaph’s enduring legacy.

Role in Temple Gatekeeping

Korahite gatekeepers controlled access, safeguarded vessels, and regulated liturgical order (1 Chronicles 26:1-19). By guarding Israel’s entry points, Ebiasaph’s family modeled both welcome and holiness—an earthly reflection of the heavenly pattern.

Spiritual and Theological Reflection

• Grace after Judgment — Ebiasaph proves that divine mercy can redeem a disgraced lineage.
• Faithful Stewardship — Quiet duties sustained public worship; similarly, God values unseen obedience (1 Corinthians 4:2).
• Generational Influence — From Davidic worship reforms to post-exilic restoration, Ebiasaph’s descendants anchored corporate praise across centuries.

Legacy for the Church

Ebiasaph invites believers to trust God’s ability to transform family histories, to esteem hidden service, and to cultivate worship that gathers and guards the people of God.

אֶבְיָסָ֖ף אֶבְיָסָ֨ף אביסף וְאֶבְיָסָ֥ף ואביסף ’eḇ·yā·sāp̄ ’eḇyāsāp̄ evyaSaf veevyaSaf wə’eḇyāsāp̄ wə·’eḇ·yā·sāp̄Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts