Azzan is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Azzan was a leader from the tribe of Issachar, identified in the King James Bible as the father of Paltiel. He appears only once in all of Scripture, in a single verse within the book of Numbers. By the time his name enters the biblical record, the long wilderness wanderings of Israel were over, Moses was nearing the end of his life, and the people of God stood on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the land promised to their fathers. The generation that had doubted at Kadesh-barnea had died in the desert, and a new generation was preparing to inherit the promise.
In Numbers 34, the Lord instructed Moses to appoint one leader from each of the nine and a half tribes that would receive an inheritance west of the Jordan, so that the land of Canaan might be divided among them. These men were not to conquer the land by their own strength, but to serve as representatives of their tribes in the apportionment of the inheritance once the conquest was complete. Azzan is named in this list, though not as the appointed leader himself. The verse reads, “And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.” The honor of representing Issachar fell to Paltiel, and Azzan is remembered as his father.
Scripture tells us nothing more about Azzan—nothing of his own deeds, his character, or his death. He does not speak, act, or travel anywhere in the narrative. His entire legacy in the biblical text is bound up in the son who stood in his place. Yet his name is preserved in the sacred record, attached to a moment of national significance: the dividing of the promised land among the tribes of Israel.
The Name
The name Azzan is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text itself. Some scholars have suggested connections to a Hebrew root conveying strength or sharpness, but the etymology is uncertain and no meaning is stated or implied in Scripture. Because the Bible offers no interpretation of the name and the linguistic evidence is inconclusive, it is best to say plainly that the meaning of Azzan is not well established. What is certain is that this name belonged to a real man in a real tribe at a pivotal moment in Israel’s history.
A Closing Thought
Azzan never speaks a word in Scripture; he is remembered only as the father of a prince. Yet that is no small thing. Faithfulness is often quiet, and much of what God builds in a generation is built through ordinary parents whose names we barely notice. Azzan raised a son who stood before Moses and Eleazar to help divide the inheritance of Israel. If your life feels hidden, remember that God keeps a record, and He often works through the faithful to shape those who come after.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Numbers 34:26 — And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.