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אָזַן

𐤀𐤆𐤍

ʼâzan

H239 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אָזַן to hear attentively, to listen, to give ear

Definition

To listen attentively, to give careful or thoughtful attention, to hear with discernment and intentionality. In some contexts, it carries the sense of giving ear with the purpose of understanding, considering, or obeying. Occasionally, may reflect considering or weighing arguments or instructions.

Semantic Range

to listen attentively, to give ear, to pay heed, to consider deeply, to listen with intent to obey or understand, to ponder (figuratively); rarely, to weigh (only in metaphorical sense)

Root / Etymology

Root: אָזַן (ʾ-ז-ן). The root אָזַן primarily means 'to ear, to give ear,' that is, 'to listen attentively.' There is a potential semantic association with balance or weighing (as with scales), due to the physical resemblance of ears to scales, but this is likely folk etymology; the verb's primary usage is consistently auditory or attentional, not literal weighing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, אָזַן is primarily used in poetic and formal contexts, especially in prayers, psalms, or wisdom literature, conveying attentive, deliberate listening—whether of humans listening to one another, or more characteristically, of the deity listening to the supplicant's request or the plea for justice. Compared with other 'hearing' verbs (e.g., שָׁמַע), אָזַן has a more intense or focused nuance, signifying a deliberate act of attention rather than mere auditory reception. In post-biblical Hebrew, its use becomes more limited and often more formal or literary. The sense of 'ponder' or 'weigh' is best understood as figurative, rooted in the process of careful attentive hearing, not in physical balancing. English translations often reflect the attentiveness with renderings like 'give ear,' but sometimes flatten the full nuance of thoughtful, considering attention that the original conveys.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (rather identical with אָזַן through the idea of scales as if two ears); to weigh, i.e. (figuratively) ponder; give good heed.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אזן (ʾ-z-n) — to hear attentively, to listen, to give ear

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H238 אָזַן I will cause to listen
H240 אָזֵן your broad-blade
H241 אֹזֶן their ear
H244 אׇזְנִי the Oznite
H245 אֲזַנְיָה Yah has listened

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H239-01 וְ/אִזֵּ֣ן veizen HC/Vpp3ms and he weighed and he listened attentively 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H239-01 Ecclesiastes 12:9 וְ/אִזֵּ֣ן veizen HC/Vpp3ms and he weighed and he listened attentively
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