אָסַר (H631) — Hebrew Lexicon

אָסַר

𐤀𐤎𐤓

ʼâçar

H631 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bind, tie, or fetter; to confine or restrict movement; by extension, to join together (as in tying or yoking animals), and metaphorically, to imprison or capture. The core meaning relates to the physical act of making fast with bonds, which can extend figuratively to include imprisonment, preparation for an activity (e.g., battle), or organizing people or things in a specific arrangement. In passages where military imagery is used, it may refer to arranging or 'harnessing' in preparation for battle.

Semantic Range

to bind, to tie, to fetter or shackle, to confine, to imprison, to harness (animals or chariots), to prepare by binding, to organize or set in order (esp. for battle), to obligate or bind by oath

Root / Etymology

From the root אסר, meaning to bind or tie. The word derives directly from the verbal root, describing various acts of binding, whether literal (as with ropes or fetters) or figurative (binding by oath, law, or obligation). Although the root's core meaning is 'to bind,' the verb's actual usage extends to diverse contexts including ritual, legal, and military settings.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָסַר most often refers to the physical act of tying or fettering individuals or animals, such as binding prisoners or preparing animals for transport or sacrifice (e.g., Gen 46:29; Exod 14:6; Judg 15:13). The term is also extended metaphorically to the binding of individuals through oaths or obligations (Num 30:3). In the context of warfare, אָסַר can refer to the 'harnessing' or assembling of chariots, soldiers, or equipment for battle, emphasizing readiness and order rather than mere confinement (cf. 1 Kgs 20:14; 2 Kgs 7:14). In post-exilic and later periods, the verb maintains its primary meanings, but incarceration and legal restriction contexts may become more prominent as cultural practices shift. The English tradition sometimes renders אָסַר as 'imprison' or 'bind,' which usually captures the general sense, though military and ritual connotations may be lost in these translations. It is also distinct from other Hebrew roots such as קשר (qashar, 'to tie or bind together, especially in the sense of making a conspiracy') and חבש (ḥavash, 'to bind as in bandaging or saddling').

Translation Consistency

primary "bind" 14 occurrences

The basic sense of אָסַר is the physical act of fastening or restraining — to tie, fetter, or restrain — and by extension to imprison, obligate, or harness. "Bind" is the natural, common English infinitive that covers the primary physical meaning and easily extends to the figurative senses (imprison, obligate, prepare/harness) while matching the dominant P2 renderings (e.g., "bound"). Using "bind" ensures consistent, intuitive translations across all forms.

Alternatives (36 occurrences):

"bound" (22x) "bound ones" (4x) "might be bound" (3x) "made ready" (2x) "harness" (2x) "bound ones of" (1x) "bound one" (1x) "confined" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle; bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds, set in array, tie.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

אָסר (Asir) — to bind, tie, restrict, fasten

Root אָסר to bind, to tie, to fetter, to confine

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H616	אַסִּיר	bound one
H617	אַסִּיר	Assir

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H631-02`	אָֽסְרָ֣ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she bound	she bound	she bound	9
`H631-26`	וַ/יַּֽאַסְרֵ֨/הוּ֙	vayaaserehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and bound him	and he bound him	and he bound him	6
`H631-29`	וַ/יֶּאְסֹ֨ר	vayeesor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and Abijah engaged	and he bound	and he bound	6
`H631-04`	אָסוּר֙	asur	`HVqsmsa`	bound	bound one	bound	5
`H631-05`	אֲסוּרִ֑ים	asurim	`HVqsmpa`	girded	bound ones	bound ones	5
`H631-15`	לֶ/אֱס֤וֹר	leesor	`HR/Vqc`	to bind	to bind	to bind	4
`H631-19`	תֵאָסֵ֖ר	teaser	`HVNi2ms`	you might be bound	you tightly bind	you might be bound	3
`H631-27`	וַ/יַּֽאַסְרֻ֨/הוּ֙	vayaaseruhu	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms`	and they bound him	and they bound him	and they bound him	3
`H631-03`	אָסֹ֤ר	asor	`HVqa`	they bind	binding	binding	2
`H631-08`	אֱסֹ֣ר	esor	`HVqv2ms`	Harness!	Bind!	Harness	2
`H631-09`	הָ/אֲסוּרִֽים	haasurim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`	the bound	the bound ones	the bound ones	2
`H631-12`	אִסְר֣וּ	iseru	`HVqv2mp`	bind	Bind! (you plural)	Bind (you plural)	2
`H631-25`	וַ/תַּאַסְרֵ֖/הוּ	vataaserehu	`HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3ms`	and bound him	and she bound him	and she bound him	2
`H631-32`	יַאַסְרֻ֗/נִי	yaaseruni	`HVqi3mp/Sp1cs`	me	they bind me	they bind me	2
`H631-01`	אֲסָרָֽ/ם	asaram	`HVqp3ms/Sp3mp`	he binds them	he bound them	he bound them	1
`H631-06`	אֲסֻר֗וֹת	asurot	`HVqsfpa`	were bound	bound ones	bound	1
`H631-07`	בְּ/אָסְרָ֖/ם	beaseram	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	when they are bound	in binding them	in binding them	1
`H631-10`	הָ/סוּרִ֖ים	hasurim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`		bound ones	of the bound ones	1
`H631-11`	הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ	heaseru	`HVNv2mp`	be confined	Bind yourselves!	bind yourselves	1
`H631-13`	לַֽ/אֲסוּרִים֙	laasurim	`HR/Vqsmpa`	to those who are bound	to the bound ones	to the bound ones	1
`H631-14`	לֶ/אֱסָרְ/ךָ֣	leesarekha	`HR/Vqc/Sp2ms`	to bind you	to bind you	to bind you	1
`H631-16`	נֶֽאֱסָרְ/ךָ֙	neesarekha	`HVqi1cp/Sp2ms`	you bound	we bind you	we bind you	1
`H631-17`	אֹסְרִ֤י	oseri	`HVqrmsc`	Binding	binding one of	binding one of	1
`H631-18`	אסורי	svry	`HVqsmpc`	prisoners	bound ones of	the bound ones of	1
`H631-20`	אֻסָּ֑רוּ	usaru	`HVPp3cp`	were bound	they were fettered	were bound	1
`H631-21`	אֻסְּר֣וּ	useru	`HVPp3cp`	were bound	they were fettered	were bound	1
`H631-22`	וַ/אֲסַרְנֻ֖/הוּ	vaasarenuhu	`HC/Vqp1cp/Sp3ms`	and bind him	we bound him	and we bind him	1
`H631-23`	וַ/אֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם	vaasaretem	`HC/Vqq2mp`	and tie	and you bound	and you bind	1
`H631-24`	וַ/אֲסָר֖וּ/ךָ	vaasarukha	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp2ms`	and bind you	and they bound you	and they bound you	1
`H631-28`	וַ/יַּאַסְר֖וּ/ם	vayaaserum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and hitched them	and they bound them	and they bound them	1
`H631-30`	וְ/אָסְרָ֥ה	veaserah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	and she binds	and she bound	and she binds	1
`H631-31`	וְ/לַ/אֲסוּרִ֖ים	velaasurim	`HC/R/Vqsmpa`	and to the bound	the bound ones	and to the bound ones	1
`H631-33`	יֵאָסֵ֖ר	yeaser	`HVNi3ms`	be confined	he will be bound	will be confined	1
`H631-34`	יֶאְסֹ֥ר	yeesor	`HVqi3ms`	shall order	he will bind	will bind	1

Occurrences in Scripture

73 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H631-18`	Genesis 39:20	אסורי	svry	`HVqsmpc`	prisoners	bound ones of	the bound ones of
`H631-05`	Genesis 39:20	אֲסוּרִ֑ים	asurim	`HVqsmpa`	were confined	bound ones	bound ones
`H631-04`	Genesis 40:3	אָס֥וּר	asur	`HVqsmsa`	was confined	bound one	bound one
`H631-05`	Genesis 40:5	אֲסוּרִ֖ים	asurim	`HVqsmpa`	were bound	bound ones	bound ones
`H631-11`	Genesis 42:16	הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ	heaseru	`HVNv2mp`	be confined	Bind yourselves!	bind yourselves
`H631-33`	Genesis 42:19	יֵאָסֵ֖ר	yeaser	`HVNi3ms`	be confined	he will be bound	will be confined
`H631-29`	Genesis 42:24	וַ/יֶּאֱסֹ֥ר	vayeesor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and bound	and he bound	and he bound
`H631-29`	Genesis 46:29	וַ/יֶּאְסֹ֤ר	vayeesor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	made ready	and he bound	and he made ready
`H631-17`	Genesis 49:11	אֹסְרִ֤י	oseri	`HVqrmsc`	Binding	binding one of	binding one of
`H631-29`	Exodus 14:6	וַ/יֶּאְסֹ֖ר	vayeesor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he made ready	and he bound	and he made ready
`H631-15`	Numbers 30:3	לֶ/אְסֹ֤ר	leesor	`HR/Vqc`	to bind	to bind	to bind
`H631-30`	Numbers 30:4	וְ/אָסְרָ֥ה	veaserah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	and she binds	and she bound	and she binds
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:5	אָֽסְרָ֣ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:5	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah-2	`HVqp3fs`	she has bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:6	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she-has-bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:7	אָסְרָ֖ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she has bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:8	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:9	אָסְרָ֖ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:10	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she-bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:11	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-02`	Numbers 30:12	אָסְרָ֥ה	aserah	`HVqp3fs`	she-has-bound	she bound	she bound
`H631-15`	Judges 15:10	לֶ/אֱס֤וֹר	leesor	`HR/Vqc`	to bind	to bind	to bind
`H631-14`	Judges 15:12	לֶ/אֱסָרְ/ךָ֣	leesarekha	`HR/Vqc/Sp2ms`	to bind you	to bind you	to bind you
`H631-03`	Judges 15:13	אָסֹ֤ר	asor	`HVqa`	we will bind	binding	binding
`H631-16`	Judges 15:13	נֶֽאֱסָרְ/ךָ֙	neesarekha	`HVqi1cp/Sp2ms`	you bound	we bind you	we bind you
`H631-27`	Judges 15:13	וַ/יַּאַסְרֻ֗/הוּ	vayaaseruhu	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms`	And they bound him	and they bound him	and they bound him
`H631-22`	Judges 16:5	וַ/אֲסַרְנֻ֖/הוּ	vaasarenuhu	`HC/Vqp1cp/Sp3ms`	and bind him	we bound him	and we bind him
`H631-19`	Judges 16:6	תֵאָסֵ֖ר	teaser	`HVNi2ms`	you might be bound	you tightly bind	you might be bound
`H631-32`	Judges 16:7	יַאַסְרֻ֗/נִי	yaaseruni	`HVqi3mp/Sp1cs`	they bind me	they bind me	they bind me
`H631-25`	Judges 16:8	וַ/תַּאַסְרֵ֖/הוּ	vataaserehu	`HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3ms`	and she bound him	and she bound him	and she bound him
`H631-19`	Judges 16:10	תֵּאָסֵֽר	teaser	`HVNi2ms`	you might be bound	you tightly bind	you might be bound
`H631-03`	Judges 16:11	אָס֤וֹר	asor	`HVqa`	they bind	binding	binding
`H631-32`	Judges 16:11	יַאַסְר֨וּ/נִי֙	yaaseruni	`HVqi3mp/Sp1cs`	me	they bind me	they bind me
`H631-25`	Judges 16:12	וַ/תַּאַסְרֵ֣/הוּ	vataaserehu	`HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3ms`	and bound him	and she bound him	and she bound him
`H631-19`	Judges 16:13	תֵּאָסֵ֑ר	teaser	`HVNi2ms`	you might be bound	you tightly bind	you might be bound
`H631-27`	Judges 16:21	וַ/יַּאַסְר֨וּ/הוּ֙	vayaaseruhu	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms`	and they bound him	and they bound him	and they bound him
`H631-09`	Judges 16:21	הָ/אֲסוּרִֽים	haasurim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`	the bound	the bound ones	the bound ones
`H631-09`	Judges 16:25	הָ/אֲסוּרִ֗ים	haasurim	`HTd/Vqsmpa`	the bound	the bound ones	the bound ones
`H631-23`	1 Samuel 6:7	וַ/אֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם	vaasaretem	`HC/Vqq2mp`	and tie	and you bound	and you bind
`H631-28`	1 Samuel 6:10	וַ/יַּאַסְר֖וּ/ם	vayaaserum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and hitched them	and they bound them	and they bound them
`H631-06`	2 Samuel 3:34	אֲסֻר֗וֹת	asurot	`HVqsfpa`	were bound	bound ones	bound
`H631-08`	1 Kings 18:44	אֱסֹ֣ר	esor	`HVqv2ms`	Prepare/Harness	Bind!	Harness
`H631-34`	1 Kings 20:14	יֶאְסֹ֥ר	yeesor	`HVqi3ms`	shall order	he will bind	will bind
`H631-04`	2 Kings 7:10	אָסוּר֙	asur	`HVqsmsa`	tied	bound one	bound
`H631-04`	2 Kings 7:10	אָס֔וּר	asur-2	`HVqsmsa`	tied	bound one	bound
`H631-08`	2 Kings 9:21	אֱסֹ֔ר	esor	`HVqv2ms`	Harness!	Bind!	Harness
`H631-29`	2 Kings 9:21	וַ/יֶּאְסֹ֖ר	vayeesor	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he harnessed	and he bound	and he bound
`H631-26`	2 Kings 17:4	וַ/יַּאַסְרֵ֖/הוּ	vayaaserehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and bound him	and he bound him	and he bound him
`H631-26`	2 Kings 23:33	וַ/יַּאַסְרֵ/הוּ֩	vayaaserehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and bound him	and he bound him	and he bound him
`H631-26`	2 Kings 25:7	וַ/יַּאַסְרֵ֨/הוּ֙	vayaaserehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and-they-bound-him	and he bound him	and they bound him

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