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אֱסָר

𐤀𐤎𐤓

ʼĕçâr

H632 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A binding commitment, vow, or obligation, particularly a formal declaration to abstain from something or to dedicate oneself to a specific action, often with a ritual or religious context. The term refers to what is bound, restricted, or forbidden as the result of such a declaration, especially in the context of vows regulating behavior or access to certain things.

Semantic Range

binding vow, obligation, vow of abstinence, act of self-imposed restriction, formal prohibition, restricted thing or act

Root / Etymology

From the root אָסַר (ʼāsar), meaning 'to bind, tie, restrain.' The noun אֱסָר (ʼĕsār) is derived from this root, signifying a state or object of binding in the abstract sense—specifically, a bond or obligation, typically in the form of a vow.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֱסָר appears primarily in priestly and legal contexts (notably Numbers 30 and, in the Qumran scrolls, in discussions of vows and ritual obligations). In biblical law, אֱסָר designates a specific kind of binding vow—often (but not exclusively) involving abstention from certain acts, foods, or behaviors, distinct from neder (נֶדֶר), which is a general vow or promise to perform an action or dedicate an object. אֱסָר typically emphasizes restriction or abstinence, whereas neder emphasizes positive dedication or performance. Later rabbinic literature preserves this distinction, elaborating detailed categories of vows related to issur (restriction or prohibition) versus neder (dedication). In English translations, 'obligation,' 'vow of abstinence,' or 'binding oath' are used, but these may not fully express the term's precise scope in Hebrew legal-religious practice. The term does not refer to general, voluntary promises but to specific ritual or legal acts of self-restraint, often with communal or cultic implications. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root develops additional legal and religious nuance, especially as the term issur (prohibition) becomes standard in halakhic discourse.

Translation Consistency

primary "ban" 1 occurrence

The primary sense of אֱסָר in this range is a formal prohibition or restricted/forbidden thing resulting from a binding declaration. 'Ban' is natural, concise English that covers prohibitions, restricted things, and formal forbidding (and can be inflected consistently), while remaining idiomatic across contexts that emphasize binding obligation or abstinence.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"binding vow" (5x) "binding-vows" (2x) "binding obligation" (1x) "binding-vow of" (1x) "binding vows" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אִסָּר; from אָסַר; an obligation or vow (of abstinence); binding, bond.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

אסר (mâçôreth) — to bind, tie, secure

Root אסר to bind, to tie, to restrain
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4562 מָסֹרֶת in a binding-cord of
H612 אֵסוּר bound ones
H615 אָסִיר turned-aside one
H633 אֱסָר binding decree

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H632-02 אִסָּר֙ isar HNcmsa obligation binding vow binding vow 6
H632-01 אֱסָרֶ֖י/הָ esareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her bindings her binding vows her binding vows 1
H632-03 וּ/לְ/אִסַּ֥ר uleisar HC/R/Ncmsc and-to-binding and to a binding-vow of and to a binding-vow of 1
H632-04 וֶֽ/אֱסָרָ/הּ֙ veesarah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs or her obligation and her binding vow and her binding vow 1
H632-05 וֶֽ/אֱסָרֶ֛/הָ veesareha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and her pledges and her binding-vows and her binding-vows 1
H632-06 וֶֽ/אֱסָרֶ֛י/הָ veesareyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and-her-binding-obligations and her binding-vows and her binding-vows 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H632-02 Numbers 30:3 אִסָּר֙ isar HNcmsa obligation binding vow a binding obligation
H632-02 Numbers 30:4 אִסָּ֛ר isar HNcmsa a binding binding vow a ban
H632-04 Numbers 30:5 וֶֽ/אֱסָרָ/הּ֙ veesarah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs or her obligation and her binding vow and her binding vow
H632-02 Numbers 30:5 אִסָּ֛ר isar HNcmsa obligations binding vow binding vow
H632-06 Numbers 30:6 וֶֽ/אֱסָרֶ֛י/הָ veesareyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and-her-binding-obligations and her binding-vows and her binding-vows
H632-05 Numbers 30:8 וֶֽ/אֱסָרֶ֛/הָ veesareha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and her pledges and her binding-vows and her binding-vows
H632-02 Numbers 30:11 אִסָּ֛ר isar HNcmsa bond binding vow binding vow
H632-02 Numbers 30:12 אִסָּ֛ר isar HNcmsa bond binding vow binding vow
H632-03 Numbers 30:13 וּ/לְ/אִסַּ֥ר uleisar HC/R/Ncmsc and-to-binding and to a binding-vow of and to a binding-vow of
H632-02 Numbers 30:14 אִסָּ֖ר isar HNcmsa obligation binding vow binding vow
H632-01 Numbers 30:15 אֱסָרֶ֖י/הָ esareyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her bindings her binding vows her binding vows
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