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אָתוֹן

𐤀𐤕𐤅𐤍

ʼâthôwn

H860 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Female donkey; specifically, an adult female member of Equus asinus, used for riding, carrying loads, or agricultural tasks. In ancient Israelite society, the term designated the female of the domesticated ass, distinct from the generic term for donkey, and is used in both literal descriptions of livestock and in narrative contexts.

Semantic Range

female donkey, she-ass, female member of the ass species (Equus asinus), beast of burden; in narratives, animal of transport or symbolic appearance

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root uncertain. Possibly related to אֵיתָן (ʼêthān, meaning 'perpetual, enduring, strong') on the basis of phonetic similarity and potential semantic connection (patience, endurance), but no clear morphological derivation. More likely, אָתוֹן is an ancient Semitic term of unknown root, preserved only in the form referring to the female donkey. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic adn), supporting its antiquity and possible non-derived status.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָתוֹן is the standard term for a female donkey, appearing frequently in narrative, legal, and poetic passages. Distinct from חֲמוֹר (ḥămôr, male donkey), it emphasizes gender in livestock lists, sacrificial regulations, and everyday descriptions. The animal held economic significance, serving as a beast of burden and occasionally as a symbol of humility or peacefulness (e.g., narrative context in Numbers 22:21-33; Zechariah 9:9). English translations routinely render it as 'she-ass' or 'female donkey,' though nuances of rural life or symbolic resonance may be lost. Unlike general terms for donkeys, אָתוֹן is not applied metaphorically to people. Its usage remains consistent through the Israelite monarchy and exilic period. Later Hebrew (post-biblical) continues the designation, distinct from Greek ὄνος (onos, generic donkey; masculine/feminine by context).

Translation Consistency

primary "female donkey" 16 occurrences

The Hebrew term specifically denotes the female of the domesticated ass. Using "female donkey" makes that gendered meaning explicit and is clear to modern readers. It avoids archaic or obscure terms (e.g., "she-ass," "jenny") while preserving the specific sense rather than the generic "donkey." This single phrase can be used consistently across all forms for H860.

Alternatives (18 occurrences):
"female donkeys" (18x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the same as אֵיתָן (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility); (she) ass.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to be enduring, patient, strong (root possible but uncertain)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H860-04 הָֽ/אָת֔וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey 10
H860-05 הָ֣/אֲתֹנ֔וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys 9
H860-03 אֲתֹנֹ֣ת atonot HNcfpa she-asses female donkeys female donkeys 6
H860-02 אֲתֹנ֑/וֹ atono HNcfsc/Sp3ms his donkey his female donkey his female donkey 3
H860-01 אֲתֹֽנְ/ךָ֜ atonekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your donkey your female donkey your female donkey 2
H860-06 לָֽ/אָת֔וֹן laaton HRd/Ncfsa to the donkey female donkey to the female donkey 1
H860-07 וַ/אֲתֹנֹ֖ת vaatonot HC/Ncfpa and female donkeys female donkeys female donkeys 1
H860-08 וְ/הָ/אֲתֹנ֖וֹת vehaatonot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the donkeys and the female donkeys and the female donkeys 1
H860-09 וְ/לָ/אֲתֹנ֞וֹת velaatonot HC/Rd/Ncfpa and-as-for-the-donkey-females and to the female donkeys and as for the female donkeys 1

Occurrences in Scripture

34 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H860-07 Genesis 12:16 וַ/אֲתֹנֹ֖ת vaatonot HC/Ncfpa and female donkeys female donkeys female donkeys
H860-03 Genesis 32:16 אֲתֹנֹ֣ת atonot HNcfpa she-asses female donkeys female donkeys
H860-03 Genesis 45:23 אֲתֹנֹ֡ת atonot HNcfpa female donkeys female donkeys female donkeys
H860-02 Genesis 49:11 אֲתֹנ֑/וֹ atono HNcfsc/Sp3ms his donkey his female donkey his female donkey
H860-02 Numbers 22:21 אֲתֹנ֑/וֹ atono HNcfsc/Sp3ms his donkey his female donkey his female donkey
H860-02 Numbers 22:22 אֲתֹנ֔/וֹ atono HNcfsc/Sp3ms his donkey his female donkey his female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:23 הָ/אָתוֹן֩ haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:23 הָֽ/אָתוֹן֙ haaton-2 HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:23 הָ֣/אָת֔וֹן haaton-3 HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:25 הָ/אָת֜וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:27 הָֽ/אָתוֹן֙ haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:27 הָ/אָת֖וֹן haaton-2 HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:28 הָ/אָת֑וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-06 Numbers 22:29 לָֽ/אָת֔וֹן laaton HRd/Ncfsa to the donkey female donkey to the female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:30 הָ/אָת֜וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-01 Numbers 22:30 אֲתֹֽנְ/ךָ֜ atonekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your donkey your female donkey your female donkey
H860-01 Numbers 22:32 אֲתֹ֣נְ/ךָ֔ atonekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your donkey your female donkey your female donkey
H860-04 Numbers 22:33 הָֽ/אָת֔וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the-donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-03 Judges 5:10 אֲתֹנ֨וֹת atonot HNcfpa on white donkeys female donkeys female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 9:3 הָ/אֲתֹנ֔וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 9:3 הָ/אֲתֹנֹֽת haatonot-2 HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 9:5 הָ/אֲתֹנ֖וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-09 1 Samuel 9:20 וְ/לָ/אֲתֹנ֞וֹת velaatonot HC/Rd/Ncfpa and-as-for-the-donkey-females and to the female donkeys and as for the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 10:2 הָ/אֲתֹנוֹת֙ haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 10:2 הָ/אֲתֹנ֔וֹת haatonot-2 HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 10:14 הָ֣/אֲתֹנ֔וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 1 Samuel 10:16 הָ/אֲתֹנ֑וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-05 2 Kings 4:22 הָ/אֲתֹנ֑וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa of the donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
H860-04 2 Kings 4:24 הָֽ/אָת֔וֹן haaton HTd/Ncfsa the donkey the female donkey the female donkey
H860-03 Zechariah 9:9 אֲתֹנֽוֹת atonot HNcfpa of donkeys female donkeys female donkeys
H860-03 Job 1:3 אֲתוֹנ֔וֹת atonot HNcfpa she-asses female donkeys female donkeys
H860-08 Job 1:14 וְ/הָ/אֲתֹנ֖וֹת vehaatonot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the donkeys and the female donkeys and the female donkeys
H860-03 Job 42:12 אֲתוֹנֽוֹת atonot HNcfpa donkey-females female donkeys female donkeys
H860-05 1 Chronicles 27:30 הָ֣/אֲתֹנ֔וֹת haatonot HTd/Ncfpa the-donkeys the female donkeys the female donkeys
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